Modal analysis for detection of damage in composite materials

Abstract

Detecting damage in composite materials is significantly important for the utilization of them.  The paper investigates the use of the experimental part of modal analysis method to indicate damage presence in FRP specimen. The study goal is to examine the efficiency of the method to detect damage by investigating the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) behaviour of damaged and undamaged fiber glass reinforced polymer specimen with simple geometry. A defect is generated artificially in the test specimen in order to visualize the difference in the dynamic parameters such as natural frequencies, modal damping, and mode shapes between the damaged and undamaged one. The results reveal the change of the NVH characteristics of the part during the damages leading to show the sensitivity of the experimental modal analysis for damages.