Both　mode　localization　and　mode　transition　can　make　the　modes　of　a　structure　change　a　lot　before　and　after　its　damage,　and　make　the　correlation　between　the　modes　weaken　to　a　great　extent.　Based　on　the　fact,　using　mode　correlation　coefficient,　a　damage　characteristic　vector　with　high　sensitivity　is　presented　for　the　detection　of　the　partial　damage　of　reticulated　shell　structures.　The　vector　is　simple,　and　it　is　composed　of　several　modes　and　a　few　test　freedoms.　Through　a　numerical　example　of　a　reticulated　shell　structure,　the　properties　of　the　damage　characteristic　vector　are　tested.　The　results　show　that　the　vector　not　only　has　fairly　good　resolution　performance,　damage　sensitivity　and　noise　robustness,　but　can　keep　its　adaptability　to　some　extent　to　the　error　of　a　structural　finite　element　model.