Generalization of the statistical moment-based damage detection method

A novel structural damage detection method with a new damage index has been recently proposed by the authors based on the statistical moments of dynamic responses of shear building structures subject to white noise ground motion. The statistical moment-based damage detection (SMBDD) method is theoretically extended in this paper with general application. The generalized SMBDD method is more versatile and can identify damage locations and damage severities of many types of building structures under various external excitations. In particular, the incomplete measurements can be considered by the proposed method without mode shape expansion or model reduction. Various damage scenarios of two general forms of building structures with incomplete measurements are investigated in consideration of different excitations. The effects of measurement noise are also investigated. The damage locations and damage severities are correctly identified even when a high noise level of 15% and incomplete measurements are considered. The effectiveness and versatility of the generalized SMBDD method are demonstrated.