In　the　structural　mode　recognition,　the　most　widely　used　method　is　the　modal　assurance　criterion　(MAC),　which　simply　shows　the　correlation　of　different　modes　but　can　not　represent　the　details　on　mode　shape　features,　especially　for　modal　complex　latticed　shell　structures.　Mode　shape　characterization　using　Zernike　moments　is　studied　for　latticed　shell　structures,　and　the　mode　shapes　are　regarded　as　image　functions　in　this　paper,　and　then　transformed　into　Zernike　moments　(including　amplitudes　and　phase　angles).　A　finite　element　model　of　a　single-layer　spherical　latticed　shell　structure　is　established　and　the　numerical　simulation　is　performed,　while　the　results　shows　that　the　Zernike　moments　can　reflect　the　features　of　mode　shapes　and　recognize　overlap　modes,　which　is　superior　to　the　traditional　MAC.　On　this　basis,　a　new　index　of　damage　detection　based　on　the　amplitudes　and　phase　angles　of　the　Zernike　moments　is　presented.　Through　several　damage　cases　by　changing　the　structural　physical　parameters　in　the　latticed　shell　structure,　different　changes　of　the　Zernike　moments　caused　by　different　damage　cases　are　detected　and　the　Zernike　moments　are　verified　to　be　feasible　for　damage　detection.