Linear and nonlinear methods for detecting cracks in beams

This paper presents experimental results from the vibration of a polycarbonate beam containing a crack that opens and closes during vibration. Several techniques were employed to detect and locate the crack making use of the nonlinearity. ``Harmonic mode shapes`` proved to be more sensitive to damage than conventional mode shapes. Instantaneous frequency and time-frequency methods also showed clear signatures for the crack. The results indicate that nonlinearities may provide increased capabilities for structural damage detection and location