• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.259-281
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• 2015

In this study, a structural identification method is proposed to assess the integrity of gravity-type caisson structures by analyzing vibration features. To achieve the objective, the following approaches are implemented. Firstly, a simplified structural model with a few degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) is formulated to represent the gravity-type caisson structure that corresponds to the sensors' DOFs. Secondly, a structural identification algorithm based on the use of vibration characteristics of the limited DOFs is formulated to fine-tune stiffness and damping parameters of the structural model. Finally, experimental evaluation is performed on a lab-scaled gravity-type caisson structure in a 2-D wave flume. For three structural states including an undamaged reference, a water-level change case, and a foundation-damage case, their corresponding structural integrities are assessed by identifying structural parameters of the three states by fine-tuning frequency response functions, natural frequencies and damping factors.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.201-210
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• 2018

The improvement in computing systems and sensor technologies devotes to conduct data-driven structural health monitoring algorithms for existing civil infrastructures. Despite of the development of techniques, the uncertainty oriented from the measurement results in the discrepancy to the actual structural parameters and let engineers or decision makers hesitate to adopt such techniques. Many studies have shown that the modal identification results can be affected by the uncertainties due to the applied methods and the types of loading. This paper aims to compare the performance of modal identification methods using Structural Modal Identification Toolsuite (SMIT) which has been developed to facilitate multiple identification methods with a user-friendly designed platform. The data fed into SMIT processes three stages for the comprehensive identification including preprocessing, eigenvalue estimation, and post-processing. The seismic and white noise response for shear frame model was obtained from numerical simulation. The identified modal parameters is compared to the actual modal parameters. In order to improve the quality of coherence in identified modal parameters, several hurdles including modal phase collinearity and extended modal amplitude coherence were introduced. Numerical simulation conducted on the 5 dof shear frame model were used to validate the effectiveness of using these parameters.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.369-374
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• 2005

A big progress has been made for moving force identification from bridge dynamic responses in recent years. Current knowledge and the potentials on moving force identification methods are reviewed in this paper under main headings below: background of moving force identification, experimental verification in laboratory and its application in field.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.409-424
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• 2015

Structural nonlinearity is a common phenomenon encountered in engineering structures under severe dynamic loading. It is necessary to localize and identify structural nonlinearities using structural dynamic measurements for damage detection and performance evaluation of structures. However, identification of nonlinear structural systems is a difficult task, especially when proper mathematical models for structural nonlinear behaviors are not available. In prior studies on nonparametric identification of nonlinear structures, the locations of structural nonlinearities are usually assumed known and all structural responses are measured. In this paper, an identification algorithm is proposed for locating and identifying model-free structural nonlinearities and systems using incomplete measurements of structural responses. First, equivalent linear structural systems are established and identified by the extended Kalman filter (EKF). The locations of structural nonlinearities are identified. Then, the model-free structural nonlinear restoring forces are approximated by power series polynomial models. The unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is utilized to identify structural nonlinear restoring forces and structural systems. Both numerical simulation examples and experimental test of a multi-story shear building with a MR damper are used to validate the proposed algorithm.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.133-152
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• 2011

System identification is a fundamental step towards the application of structural health monitoring and damage detection techniques. On this respect, the development of evolved identification strategies is a priority for obtaining reliable and repeatable baseline modal parameters of an undamaged structure to be adopted as references for future structural health assessments. The paper presents the identification of the modal parameters of the Guangzhou New Television Tower, China, using a data-driven stochastic subspace identification (SSI-data) approach complemented with an appropriate automatic mode selection strategy which proved to be successful in previous literature studies. This well-known approach is based on a clustering technique which is adopted to discriminate structural modes from spurious noise ones. The method is applied to the acceleration measurements made available within the task I of the ANCRiSST benchmark problem, which cover 24 hours of continuous monitoring of the structural response under ambient excitation. These records are then subdivided into a convenient number of data sets and the variability of modal parameter estimates with ambient temperature and mean wind velocity are pointed out. Both 10 minutes and 1 hour long records are considered for this purpose. A comparison with finite element model predictions is finally carried out, using the structural matrices provided within the benchmark, in order to check that all the structural modes contained in the considered frequency interval are effectively identified via SSI-data.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.791-806
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• 2004

The inverse pseudo excitation method is used in the identification of random loadings. For structures subjected to stationary random excitations, the power spectral density matrices of such loadings are identified experimentally. The identification is based on the measured acceleration responses and the structural frequency response functions. Numerical simulation is used in the optimal selection of sensor locations. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the loading identification experiments of three structural models, two uniform steel cantilever beams and a four-story plastic glass frame, subjected to uncorrelated or partially correlated random excitations. The identified loadings agree quite well with actual excitations. It is proved that the proposed method is quite accurate and efficient in addition to its ability to alleviate the ill conditioning of the structural frequency response functions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2018

In this paper, a Cloud Model based Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm (CMFOA) is presented for structural damage identification, which is a global optimization algorithm inspired by the foraging behavior of fruit fly swarm. It is assumed that damage only leads to the decrease in elementary stiffness. The differences on time-domain structural acceleration data are used to construct the objective function, which transforms the damaged identification problem of a structure into an optimization problem. The effectiveness, efficiency and accuracy of the CMFOA are demonstrated by two different numerical simulation structures, including a simply supported beam and a cantilevered plate. Numerical results show that the CMFOA has a better capacity for structural damage identification than the basic Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm (FOA) and the CMFOA is not sensitive to measurement noise.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.259-268
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• 2017

System identification of structures is one of the important aspects of structural health monitoring. The accuracy and efficiency of identification results is affected severely by measurement noises, especially when the structure system is large, such as bridge structures, and when online system identification is required. In this paper, the least square estimation (LSE) method is used combined with the substructure approach for identifying structural parameters of a cable-stay bridge with large degree of freedoms online. Numerical analysis is carried out by first dividing the bridge structure into smaller substructures and then estimates the parameters of each substructure online using LSE method. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach is capable of identifying structural parameters, however, the accuracy and efficiency of identification results depend highly on the noise sensitivities of loading region, loading pattern as well as element size.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.53-70
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• 2006

The paper summarizes the dynamic-based assessment of a reinforced concrete arch bridge, dating back to the 50's. The outlined approach is based on ambient vibration testing, output-only modal identification and updating of the uncertain structural parameters of a finite element model. The Peak Picking and the Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition techniques were used to extract the modal parameters from ambient vibration data and a very good agreement in both identified frequencies and mode shapes has been found between the two techniques. In the theoretical study, vibration modes were determined using a 3D Finite Element model of the bridge and the information obtained from the field tests combined with a classic system identification technique provided a linear elastic updated model, accurately fitting the modal parameters of the bridge in its present condition. Hence, the use of output-only modal identification techniques and updating procedures provided a model that could be used to evaluate the overall safety of the tested bridge under the service loads.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.343-365
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• 2011

Structural system identification (SSI) is an inverse problem of difficult solution. Currently, difficulties lie in the development of algorithms which can cater to large size problems. In this paper, a parameter estimation technique based on evolutionary strategy is presented to overcome some of the difficulties encountered in using the traditional system identification methods in terms of convergence. In this paper, a non-traditional form of system identification technique employing evolutionary algorithms is proposed. In order to improve the convergence characteristics, it is proposed to employ immune algorithms which are proved to be built with superior diversification mechanism than the conventional evolutionary algorithms and are being used for several practical complex optimisation problems. In order to reduce the number of design variables, domain decomposition methods are used, where the identification process of the entire structure is carried out in multiple stages rather than in single step. The domain decomposition based methods also help in limiting the number of sensors to be employed during dynamic testing of the structure to be identified, as the process of system identification is carried out in multiple stages. A fifteen storey framed structure, truss bridge and 40 m tall microwave tower are considered as a numerical examples to demonstrate the effectiveness of the domain decomposition based structural system identification technique using immune algorithm.