A developed hybrid method for crack identification of beams

A developed hybrid method for crack identification of beams is presented. Based on the Euler-Bernouli beam theory and concepts of fracture mechanics, governing equation of the cracked beams is reformulated. Finite element (FE) method as a powerful numerical tool is used to discritize the equation in space domain. After transferring the equations from time domain to frequency domain, frequencies and mode shapes of the beam are obtained. Efficiency of the governed equation for free vibration analysis of the beams is shown by comparing the results with those available in literature and via ANSYS software. The used equation yields to move the influence of cracks from the stiffness matrix to the mass matrix. For crack identification measured data are produced by applying random error to the calculated frequencies and mode shapes. An objective function is prepared as root mean square error between measured and calculated data. To minimize the function, hybrid genetic algorithms (GAs) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique is introduced. Efficiency, Robustness, applicability and usefulness of the mixed optimization numerical tool in conjunction with the finite element method for identification of cracks locations and depths are shown via solving different examples.