Effect of Localized Damages on the Free Vibration Analysis of Civil Structures by Component-Wise Approach

Refined one-dimensional (1D) models are used to carry out free vibration analysis of civil engineering structures affected by local damages. The Carrera unified formulation (CUF) provides higher-order structural models to be formulated in a compact and, eventually, hierarchical manner. In the domain of the CUF, refined 1D models characterized by three-dimensional capabilities can be realized by using various function expansions of the generalized displacement field over the cross section. Recently, a component-wise (CW) approach was introduced by using CUF. CW gives a detailed physical description of multicomponent structures, since each component can be modeled with its geometrical and mechanical characteristics; that is, no reference surfaces, axes, or homogenization techniques are used. In the present work, combinations of quadratic Lagrange elements are used to describe the beam theory kinematics. This approach enables the highly-accurate analysis of complex civil structures such as truss structures, industrial buildings, and a multifloor building. In this context, damage scenarios are introduced with no loss of accuracy in the mathematical formulation by deteriorating the single component of the structure. Effects of damages are, thus, evaluated by free vibration analyses.