Damage Localization Beyond Modal Curvature Methods
Giada FARACO, Andrea Vincenzo DE NUNZIO, Nicola Ivan GIANNOCCARO, Arcangelo MESSINA
Abstract. Structural health monitoring and damage localization using non-destructive techniques have long been key research topics, aimed at detecting defects that may evolve into critical failures if left unnoticed. In this context, reference-free approaches are particularly important, since information about the undamaged state is often unavailable. Among the various techniques, vibration-based methods, and particularly the analysis of mode shapes, have been widely investigated. The curvature method, based on the second derivative of mode shapes, has attracted significant attention, proving to be one of the most reliable and established techniques for identifying localized stiffness reductions associated with damage without requiring baseline data. However, the use of second- or higher-order derivatives poses notable challenges when dealing with experimental data, as these operations tend to amplify measurement noise and complicate the estimation process. To overcome these limitations, the authors have proposed an extension of traditional curvature-based methods by introducing a novel damage indicator based on the first derivative of mode shapes, combined with appropriate filtering techniques. The aim of this manuscript is to provide an experimental validation of this previously developed approach, showing how it simplifies the computational procedure while preserving, and in some cases enhancing, the accuracy of damage detection and localization. As in conventional curvature-based methods, damage is identified through the presence of localized peaks in the derived indicators. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated numerically, through a case study of a stepped beam with a circular cross-section.
Keywords
Damage Detection, Damage Localization, Mode Shapes, Mode Shapes Derivatives
Published online 11/8/2026, 5 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Giada FARACO, Andrea Vincenzo DE NUNZIO, Nicola Ivan GIANNOCCARO, Arcangelo MESSINA, Damage Localization Beyond Modal Curvature Methods, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 73, pp 302-306, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904459-59
The article was published as article 59 of the book Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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