Vibration Analysis of a Multi-Span Continuous Beam with Cracks

This paper deals with dynamic analysis of a multi-span continuous beam with an arbitrary number of cracks. This problem is solved by a hybrid analytical/ numerical method that is the basis for applying to a method of damage detection in the multi-span continuous beam later. In this paper, we calculate in detail about vibration frequencies, vibration mode shape of beam structure with cracks. The proposed method is the method that improved the transfer matrix method combined with the mode-superposition method. Only need to use two unknowns, this method can solve the problem of multi-span continuous beam with an arbitrary number of cracks. Calculation cases of beam with cracks and beam without cracks are compared with previous studies.