ABSTRACT
Crack detection in structures has attracted the researchers for many years. Several
crack detection attempts use measurements of the structure's modal parameters,
like the natural frequencies and mode shapes. One of The easiest parameter among
them to measure and correlate to cracks is the natural frequencies. Several
approaches focused on crack detection in beams and bars using the changes in the
natural frequencies. The direct problem has been addressed, but the inverse
problem is a challenging one, where it starts by measuring certain structural
properties and estimate the crack location and size. In most research works, the
natural frequencies of the intact structure or historical measurements have to be
known in advance. Another feature in similar studies is to handle the beam action
and bar action separately. The inverse problem of an Euler-Bernoulli beam with an
open crack is addressed here. Unlike these models, the present model utilizes the
first axial and transverse natural frequencies to determine the size and location of
the crack, without prior historical measurements.