SDSSocial Development Studies3083-38763083-3868Bio-Byword Scientific Publishing Pty. Ltd.10.26689/SDS.v2i2.15244ArticleResearch on Damage Identification of Reinforced Concrete Cantilever Beams Based on Dynamic Response Characteristicshttps://artdesignp.com/journal/SDS/2/2/10.26689/SDS.v2i2.15244ZhuYumeng,SunHaoxuan,SunShihan,LiangTianfeng,YuXin,LiHao2026222026-04-30Structural damage identification based on dynamic response characteristics has become an important approach in structural health monitoring because of its high efficiency, non-destructive nature, and practical applicability. In this study, a reinforced concrete cantilever beam was selected as the research object to investigate the effectiveness of vibration mode and curvature mode methods for damage identification. A three-dimensional finite element model was established in ABAQUS, and one intact beam together with four damage scenarios of different damage extents were simulated by reducing the elastic modulus within the damaged region. The first three natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes were extracted, and damage identification was carried out by comparing the changes in vibration modes and curvature modes between the intact and damaged beams. The simulation results indicate that the natural frequencies decrease gradually with increasing damage severity, allowing qualitative assessment of structural damage. Although the vibration mode difference method can roughly identify the damaged region, its sensitivity to local stiffness degradation is limited and it cannot accurately determine the damage location or extent. In contrast, the curvature mode method exhibits significantly higher sensitivity to local stiffness changes and provides more accurate localization of the damaged area under different damage conditions. The results demonstrate that curvature-based damage identification is more reliable and effective than conventional mode shape comparison for reinforced concrete cantilever beams. This study provides a theoretical basis and numerical reference for vibration-based structural health monitoring and damage assessment of reinforced concrete structures.Reinforced concrete cantilever beam, Structural health monitoring, Damage identification, Modal analysis, Finite element analysis

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