Structural damage detection based on modal data using moth-flame optimization algorithm

Abstract

This paper presents a new and efficient damage detection method for civil structures. To identify damage localisation and quantification, the proposed method defines the damage detection problem as an inverse problem. The objective function is based on modal strain energy and static displacements. A recently developed heuristic paradigm inspired by nature, called the moth-flame optimisation algorithm, is utilised and has been compared with other algorithms, such as particle swarm optimisation and cuckoo search, for simulating the real condition for structural health monitoring programs; challenges like contaminating frequency with random noise and using restricted mode shape data are also taken into account. In order to check the robustness of the proposed method, several examples, including a plane steel truss, plane steel frame and eight-storey shear frame, are considered. Also several damage scenarios have been considered for each example. Errors between the simulated and expected result in each damage scenario were less than 2% in numerical studies, showing that the efficiency and capability of the present damage detection method is acceptable.