Crack identification in beams using wavelet analysis

In this paper a simple method for crack identification in beam structures based on wavelet analysis is presented. The fundamental vibration mode of a cracked cantilever beam is analyzed using continuous wavelet transform and both the location and size of the crack are estimated. The position of the crack is located by the sudden change in the spatial variation of the transformed response. To estimate the size of the crack, an intensity factor is defined which relates the size of the crack to the coefficients of the wavelet transform. An intensity factor law is established which allows accurate prediction of crack size. The viability of the proposed method is investigated both analytically and experimentally in case of a cantilever beam containing a transverse surface crack. In the light of the results obtained, the advantages and limitations of the proposed method as well as suggestions for future work are presented and discussed.