This　study　focuses　on　identifying　damage　in　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　beams　using　time-domain　modal　testing　and　wavelet　analysis.　A　numerical　model　of　an　RC　beam　was　used　to　generate　various　damage　scenarios　with　different　severities　and　locations.　Acceleration　time　histories　were　recorded　for　both　damaged　and　undamaged　structures.　Two　damage　indices,　DI_MW　and　DI_SW,　derived　from　the　wavelet　analysis,　were　employed　to　determine　the　location　and　severity　of　the　damage.　The　results　showed　that　different　wavelet　families　and　specific　mother　wavelets　had　varying　effectiveness　in　detecting　damage.　The　Daubechies　wavelet　family　(db2,　db6,　and　db9)　detected　damage　at　the　center　and　sides　of　the　RC　beams　due　to　good　time　and　frequency　localization.　The　Biorthogonal　wavelet　family　(bior2.8　and　bior3.1)　provided　improved　time–frequency　resolution.　The　Symlets　wavelet　family　(sym2　and　sym7)　offered　a　balanced　trade-off　between　time　and　frequency　localization.　The　Shannon　wavelet　family　(shan1-0.5　and　shan1-0.1)　exhibited　good　time　localization,　while　the　Frequency　B-Spline　wavelet　family　(fbsp2-1-0.1)　excelled　in　frequency　localization.　Certain　combinations　of　mother　wavelets,　such　as　shan1-0.5　with　the　DI_SW　index,　were　highly　effective　in　detecting　damage.　The　DI_SW　index　outperformed　DI_MW　across　different　numerical　models.　Selecting　appropriate　wavelet　analysis　techniques,　particularly　utilizing　shan1-0.5　in　the　DI_SW,　proved　effective　for　detecting　damage　in　RC　beams.　©　2023　by　the　authors.