The　purpose　of　this　paper　was　to　analyze　the　sampling　interval　sensitivity　for　crack　detection　by　stationary　wavelet　transform　(SWT)　in　order　to　facilitate　the　identification　of　crack　locations　in　beam-like　structures.　SWT　is　a　redundant　transform　that　doubles　the　number　of　input　samples　at　each　iteration.　It　has　been　shown　that　the　SWT　decomposition　detail　coefficient　of　mode　shapes　of　beam-like　structure　can　provide　sensitive　crack　indication　that　is　useful　for　damage　detection.　However,　the　sampling　interval　is　an　important　factor　that　affects　the　sensitivity　of　crack　detection.　Three　SWT　methods　were　analyzed,　including　the　method　using　the　SWT　of　the　original　mode　shape　(designated　SWT-1),　the　method　using　the　difference　between　the　detail　coefficients　of　the　SWT　of　the　left-half　and　the　reconstructed　right-half　sets　of　the　mode　shapes　(designated　SWT-2),　and　the　method　using　the　difference　between　the　detail　coefficient　of　the　left-half　and　right-half　sets　of　the　interpolated　mode　shapes　(designated　SWT-3).　The　modal　responses　of　damaged　beams　with　single　and　multiple　cracks　are　computed　using　the　finite　element　method.　The　curve　of　the　peak　value　of　SWT　detail　coefficient　versus　sampling　interval　was　obtained　using　a　fifth-order　polynomial　fit　method.　The　effects　of　crack　depth,　crack　width,　and　crack　locations　on　the　sensitivity　of　sampling　interval　on　crack　detection　are　investigated.　SWT-2　method　has　a　shortcoming　in　determining　whether　the　cracks　are　located　at　the　true　crack　location　or　its　mirror　image　position　at　different　sampling　intervals.　In　order　to　overcome　this　shortcoming,　two　rules　are　proposed　for　the　determination　of　true　crack　locations　and　the　selection　of　sampling　intervals　for　single　crack　or　multiple　crack　detection.　Copyright　©　2011　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.