A　novel　quasi-optical　coherence　vibration　tomography　(Quasi-OCVT)　measurement　system　suitable　for　structural　damage　detection　is　proposed　by　taking　the　concept　of　two-dimensional　optical　coherence　vibration　tomography　(2D-OCVT)　technique.　An　artificial　quasi-interferogram　fringe　pattern　(QIFP)　similar　to　the　interferogram　of　2D-OCVT　system,　as　a　sensor,　was　pasted　on　the　surface　of　a　vibrating　structure.　Image　sequences　of　QIFP　were　captured　by　a　high-speed　camera　that　worked　as　a　detector.　The　period　density　of　the　imaged　QIFP　changed　due　to　the　structural　vibration,　from　which　the　vibration　information　of　the　structure　could　be　obtained.　Noise　influence　on　the　measurement　accuracy,　torsional　sensitivity　and　optical　distortion　effect　of　the　Quasi-OCVT　system　were　investigated.　The　efficiency　and　reliability　of　the　proposed　method　were　demonstrated　by　applying　the　system　to　damage　detection　of　a　cracked　beam-like　structure　with　a　roving　auxiliary　mass.　The　roving　of　the　mass　along　the　cracked　beam　brings　about　the　change　of　natural　frequencies　that　could　be　obtained　by　the　Quasi-OCVT　technique.　Therefore,　frequency-shift　curves　can　be　achieved　and　these　curves　provide　additional　spatial　information　for　structural　damage　detection.　Same　cases　were　also　analyzed　by　the　finite　element　method　(FEM)　and　conventional　accelerometer-based　measurement　method.　Comparisons　were　carried　out　among　these　results.　Results　obtained　by　the　proposed　Quasi-OCVT　method　had　a　good　agreement　with　the　ones　obtained　by　FEM,　from　which　the　damage　could　be　directly　detected.　However,　the　results　obtained　by　conventional　accelerometer　showed　misleading　ambiguous　peaks　at　damage　position　owing　to　the　mass　effect　on　the　structure,　where　the　damage　location　cannot　be　identified　confidently　without　further　confirmation.　The　good　performance　of　the　cost-effective　Quasi-OCVT　method　makes　it　attractive　for　vibration　measurement　and　damage　detection　of　beam　-like　structures.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.