• Wind and Structures
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.657-675
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• 2015

In this study, the feasibility of vibration-based damage detection methods for the wind turbine tower (WTT) structure is evaluated. First, a frequency-based damage detection (FBDD) is outlined. A damage-localization algorithm is visited to locate damage from changes in natural frequencies. Second, a mode-shape-based damage detection (MBDD) method is outlined. A damage index algorithm is utilized to localize damage from estimating changes in modal strain energies. Third, a finite element (FE) model based on a real WTT is established by using commercial software, Midas FEA. Several damage scenarios are numerically simulated in the FE model of the WTT. Finally, both FBDD and MBDD methods are employed to identify the damage scenarios simulated in the WTT. Damage regions are chosen close to the bolt connection of WTT segments; from there, the stiffness of damage elements are reduced.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.85-104
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• 2014

Damage detection is a challenging, complex, and at the same time very important research topic in civil engineering. Identifying the location and severity of damage in a structure, as well as the global effects of local damage on the performance of the structure are fundamental elements of damage detection algorithms. Local damage detection is essential for structural health monitoring since local damages can propagate and become detrimental to the functionality of the entire structure. Existing studies present several methods which utilize sensor data, and track global changes in the structure. The challenging issue for these methods is to be sensitive enough in identifYing local damage. Autoregressive models with exogenous terms (ARX) are a popular class of modeling approaches which are the basis for a large group of local damage detection algorithms. This study presents an algorithm, called Influence-based Damage Detection Algorithm (IDDA), which is developed for identification of local damage based on regression of the vibration responses. The formulation of the algorithm and the post-processing statistical framework is presented and its performance is validated through implementation on an experimental beam-column connection which is instrumented by dense-clustered wired and wireless sensor networks. While implementing the algorithm, two different sensor networks with different sensing qualities are utilized and the results are compared. Based on the comparison of the results, the effect of sensor noise on the performance of the proposed algorithm is observed and discussed in this paper.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.87-94
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• 1995

In highway bridges robust damage detection exercises are mandatory to secure the safety of the structures from hostile environmental conditions such as fatigue earthquake, wind, and corrosion. This paper presents a damage detection practice in a full-scale highway bridge by utilizing modal response parameters of as-built and damaged states of the structure. first the test structure is described and modal testing procedures are outlined. Next, a damage detection model which yields information on the location of damage directly from changes in mode shapes is outlined. Finally, the damage detection model is implemented to predict the location of damage in the ten structure. From the results, it was found that the damage detection model accurately locates damage in the test structures for which modal parameters of only a single mode are available for pre-damage (as-built) and post-damage stages.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.263-280
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• 2007

In this paper, an improved GA-based damage detection algorithm using a set of combined modal features is proposed. Firstly, a new GA-based damage detection algorithm is formulated for beam-type structures. A schematic of the GA-based damage detection algorithm is designed and objective functions using several modal features are selected for the algorithm. Secondly, experimental modal tests are performed on free-free beams. Modal features such as natural frequency, mode shape, and modal strain energy are experimentally measured before and after damage in the test beams. Finally, damage detection exercises are performed on the test beam to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed method. Experimental results show that the damage detection is the most accurate when frequency changes combined with modal strain-energy changes are used as the modal features for the proposed method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.183-202
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• 2014

A new method of multiple damage detection in beam like structures is introduced. The mode shapes of both healthy and damaged structures are used in damage detection process (DDP). Multiple Damage Localization Index Based on Mode Shapes (MDLIBMS) is presented as a criterion in detecting damaged elements. A finite element modeling of structures is used to calculate the mode shapes parameters. The main advantages of the proposed method are its simplicity, flexibility on the number of elements and so the accuracy of the damage(s) position(s), sensitivity to small damage extend, capability in prediction of required number of mode shapes and low sensitivity to noisy data. In fact, because of differential and comparative form of MDLIBMS, using noise polluted data doesn't have major effect on the results. This makes the proposed method a powerful one in damage detection according to measured mode shape data. Because of its flexibility, damage detection process in multi span bridge girders with non-prismatic sections can be done by this method. Numerical simulations used to demonstrate these advantages.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.207-217
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• 2017

Because of the inevitable uncertainties such as structural parameters, external excitations and measurement noises, the effects of uncertainties should be taken into consideration in structural damage detection. In this paper, two probabilistic structural damage detection approaches are proposed to account for the underlying uncertainties in structural parameters and external excitation. The first approach adopts the statistical moment-based structural damage detection (SMBDD) algorithm together with the sensitivity analysis of the damage vector to the uncertain parameters. The approach takes the advantage of the strength SMBDD, so it is robust to measurement noise. However, it requests the number of measured responses is not less than that of unknown structural parameters. To reduce the number of measurements requested by the SMBDD algorithm, another probabilistic structural damage detection approach is proposed. It is based on the integration of structural damage detection using temporal moments in each time segment of measured response time history with the sensitivity analysis of the damage vector to the uncertain parameters. In both approaches, probability distribution of damage vector is estimated from those of uncertain parameters based on stochastic finite element model updating and probabilistic propagation. By comparing the two probability distribution characteristics for the undamaged and damaged models, probability of damage existence and damage extent at structural element level can be detected. Some numerical examples are used to demonstrate the performances of the two proposed approaches, respectively.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.169-181
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• 2020

Sensor placement is a crucial aspect of bridge health monitoring (BHM) dedicated to accurately estimate and locate structural damages. In addressing this goal, a sensor placement framework based on the deflection influence line (DIL) analysis is here proposed, for the optimal design of damage detection-oriented BHM system. In order to improve damage detection accuracy, we explore the change of global stiffness matrix, damage coefficient matrix and DIL vector caused by structural damage, and thus develop a novel sensor placement framework based on the Fisher information matrix. Our approach seeks to determine the contribution of each sensing node to damage detection, and adopts a distance correction coefficient to eliminate the information redundancy among sensors. The proposed damage detection-oriented optimal sensor placement (OSP) method is verified by two examples: (1) a numerically simulated three-span continuous beam, and (2) the Pinghu bridge which has existing real damage conditions. These two examples verify the performance of the distance corrected damage sensitivity of influence line (DSIL) method in significantly higher contribution to damage detection and lower information redundancy, and demonstrate the proposed OSP framework can be potentially employed in BHM practices.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.1221-1232
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• 2015

In recent decades, wavelet transforms as a strong signal processing tool have attracted attention of researchers for damage identification. Apart from the wide application of wavelet transforms for damage identification, influence of higher order modes on the quality of damage detection has been a challenging matter for researchers. In this study, influence of higher order modes and different mass configurations on the quality of damage detection through Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) was studied. Nine different damage scenarios were imposed to four cantilever structures having different mass configurations. The first four mode shapes of the cantilever structures were measured experimentally and analyzed by DWT. A damage index was defined in order to study the influence of higher order modes. Results of this study showed that change in the mass configuration had a great impact on the quality of damage detection even when the changes altered natural frequencies slightly. It was observed that for successful damage detection all available mode shapes should be taken into account and measured mode shapes had no significant priority for damage detection over each other.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.315-341
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• 2007

A sudden change of stiffness in a structure, associated with the events such as weld fracture and brace breakage, will cause a discontinuity in acceleration response time histories recorded in the vicinity of damage location at damage time instant. A new damage index is proposed and implemented in this paper to detect the damage time instant, location, and severity of a structure due to a sudden change of structural stiffness. The proposed damage index is suitable for online structural health monitoring applications. It can also be used in conjunction with the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) for damage detection without using the intermittency check. Numerical simulation using a five-story shear building under different types of excitation is executed to assess the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed damage index and damage detection approach for the building at different damage levels. The sensitivity of the damage index to the intensity and frequency range of measurement noise is also examined. The results from this study demonstrate that the damage index and damage detection approach proposed can accurately identify the damage time instant and location in the building due to a sudden loss of stiffness if measurement noise is below a certain level. The relation between the damage severity and the proposed damage index is linear. The wavelet-transform (WT) and the EMD with intermittency check are also applied to the same building for the comparison of detection efficiency between the proposed approach, the WT and the EMD.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.221-237
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• 2015

An integrated method is proposed for structural nonlinear damage detection based on time series analysis and the higher statistical moments of structural responses in this study. It combines the time series analysis, the higher statistical moments of AR model residual errors and the fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering techniques. A few comprehensive damage indexes are developed in the arithmetic and geometric mean of the higher statistical moments, and are classified by using the FCM clustering method to achieve nonlinear damage detection. A series of the measured response data, downloaded from the web site of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) USA, from a three-storey building structure considering the environmental variety as well as different nonlinear damage cases, are analyzed and used to assess the performance of the new nonlinear damage detection method. The effectiveness and robustness of the new proposed method are finally analyzed and concluded.