Charged System Search Algorithm Utilized for Structural Damage Detection

Abstract

This paper presents damage detection and assessment methodology based on the changes in dynamic parameters of a structural system. The method is applied at an element level using a finite element model. According to continuum damage mechanics, damage is represented by a reduction factor of the element stiffness. A recently developed metaheuristic optimization algorithm known as the charged system search (CSS) is utilized for locating and quantifying the damaged areas of the structure. In order to demonstrate the abilities of this method, three examples are included comprising of a 10-elements cantilever beam, a Bowstring plane truss, and a 39-element three-story three-bay plane frame. The possible damage types in structures by considering several damage scenarios and using incomplete modal data are modeled. Finally, results are obtained from the CSS algorithm by detecting damage in these structures and compared to the results of the PSOPC algorithm. In addition, the effect of noise is shown in the results of the CSS algorithm by suitable diagrams. As is illustrated, this method has acceptable results in the structural detection damage with low computational time.