Crack detection in a beam using wavelet transform and photographic measurements

An optimistic attempt for the detection of a crack in a beam using discrete wavelet transform is proposed. Finite element model of the simply supported beam with a transverse open crack is considered. Crack in a beam causes a slope discontinuity in the elastic line. The deflection of the beam is used to locate the slope discontinuity using wavelet transform. The effect of measurement noise on the wavelet decomposition level is studied. An inexpensive digital image based technique is employed to obtain the deflection of the cracked beam for experimental investigations. White pixels due to dust particles are removed using connected component algorithm. A suitable edge detection technique is selected for finding the edged image on the basis of peak signal to noise ratio values. The deflection of the non-cracked edge of the beam is used as an input signal for wavelet transform to detect the crack location. Detection of a crack in the beam with different crack depths is investigated experimentally. The proposed method works well with numerically simulated as well as experimentally measured cracked beam deflections.