Damage detection in 2D beams using wavelet and boundary elements

Resumo

Damage detection in structures is crucial to prevent the collapse of structural elements. Research suggests using numerical methods to aid in damage detection in structures, typically based on finite element modeling (FEM) and comparisons of modal responses of structures before and after damage. This article proposes a new approach to identify damage using Wavelet Transform (WT) and Boundary Element Method (BEM), these methods can detect singularities present in displacement parameters caused by damage and, consequently, do not require the condition of the structure before damage. To validate the methodology, a simply supported and bi-supported beam with damage will be modeled using the open-source programs Bemlab2d and Bemcracker2d, along with an algorithm in Matlab language for manipulation of wavelet coefficients and damage localization. The results indicate that WT is a useful tool for identification and monitoring of structural damage.