Free-end damage detection in cantilever steel plate using wavelet transform method

Abstract

Cantilever plates are widely applied in engineering structures. Monitoring these structures is extensive due to the uniqueness of the support system. However, identification of damage at the free-end has not been given adequate attention. In this study, a continuous wavelet transform (CWT) damage identification method is presented for cantilever plate. The WT method involves analysing mode shape difference of the plate with WT. This method analyses the difference between the intact and damaged mode shapes of the cantilever plate, and the damage is localized in the decomposed signal. Through this method, the problem of free-end damage detection is resolved. A numerical model of a cantilever plate with different levels of damage severity at different locations is applied to validate this method. The results indicate the proposed method is capable of detecting damage at the free-end as well as damage at other parts of the cantilever plate. In addition, a sensitivity study on noise effect is provided.