A flexibility matrix method for damage identification of truss structure

The flexibility matrix method for damage identification of truss structure is suggested in this paper. The first modal parameters obtained by dynamic measuring are needed only in this method. The finite\|element method is used to formulate the eigen\|equation of truss in flexibility matrix form. The flexibility of truss bars would be changed if the damage is occurred in any of these bars, then the physical parameters of the truss can be derived by expressing the changes of flexibility as the first\|order term in the Taylor series expansion of flexibility. Thus, the damaged rods of the truss and degree of the damage can be identified. The effectiveness of this approach is verified by a numerical example.