Finite element modeling of a vibrating beam with a breathing crack: observations on crack detection

Abstract

This article develops a finite element model in order to study the vibrational behavior of a beam with a nonpropagating edge crack. According to this model, the beam is discretized into finite elements while the breathing crack behavior is treated as a full frictional contact problem between the crack surfaces. The nonlinear dynamic equations of this model are solved using an incremental iterative procedure. The derived response is analyzed using either Fourier or wavelet transforms in order to determine the breathing crack effects. This study is applied to a cantilever beam subjected to dynamic loadings. Parametric studies are conducted to investigate the sensitivity of vibrational behavior to the crack angle, depth, and position. The accuracy of the results is validated through comparisons with results available from the literature.

Modelling the degradation of vibration characteristics of reinforced concrete beams due to flexural damage

“…This change between opening and closure in turn causes the stress around the crack zone to alternate between tension at the opening state and compression at the closure state. Thus, researchers have suggested breathing crack models which include the compressive action when the crack closes to model the vibration of cracked structures [9][10][11].…”

Study of forced vibration response of a beam with a breathing crack using iteration method

“…Loutridis et al [26] simulated the forced vibration of the beams with breathing crack by simplifying the beam as a spring mass model. Bouboulas and Anifantic [27] developed an FEM model to study the dynamic responses of a beam with a non-propagating edge crack. Different crack angles were considered, and the breathing crack behavior was treated as full frictional contact problem between the crack surfaces.…”

Generation of higher harmonics in longitudinal vibration of beams with breathing cracks

“…Several FE models of beam with breathing crack were presented in the literature. 2-D and 3-D frictional FE models of cracked beam were presented in [35,36]. The work involved parametric studies of the effect of crack depth, position and angle on natural frequencies of a beam.…”