• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.263-275
• /
• 2010

In the last decade, wireless sensor networks have emerged as a promising technology that could accelerate progress in the field of structural monitoring. The main advantages of wireless sensor networks compared to conventional monitoring technologies are fast deployment, small interference with the surroundings, self-organization, flexibility and scalability. These features could enable mass application of monitoring systems, even on smaller structures. However, since wireless sensor network nodes are battery powered and data communication is the most energy consuming task, transferring all the acquired raw data through the network would dramatically limit system lifetime. Hence, data reduction has to be achieved at the node level in order to meet the system lifetime requirements of real life applications. The objective of this paper is to discuss some general aspects of data processing and management in monitoring systems based on wireless sensor networks, to present a prototype monitoring system for civil engineering structures, and to illustrate long-term field test results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.77 no.1
• /
• pp.1-17
• /
• 2021

The influence of prestress force on the fundamental frequency and static deflection shape of uncracked Prestressed Concrete (PC) beams with a parabolic bonded tendon was examined in this paper. Due to the conflicts among existing theories, the analytical solutions for properly considering the dynamic and static behavior of these members is not straightforward. A series of experiments were conducted for a total period of approximately 2.5 months on a PC beam made with high strength concrete, subsequently and closely to the 28 days of age of concrete. Specifically, the simply supported PC member was short term subjected to free transverse vibration and three-point bending tests during its early-age. Subsequently, the experimental data were compared with a model that describes the dynamic behavior of PC girders as a combination of two substructures interconnected, i.e., a compressed Euler-Bernoulli beam and a tensioned parabolic cable. It was established that the fundamental frequency of uncracked PC beams with a parabolic bonded tendon is sensitive to the variation of the initial elastic modulus of concrete in the early-age curing. Furthermore, the small variation in experimental frequency with time makes doubtful its use in inverse problem identifications. Conversely, the relationship between prestress force and static deflection shape is well described by the magnification factor formula of the "compression-softening" theory by assuming the variation of the chord elastic modulus of concrete with time.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.583-599
• /
• 2022

In this paper, a multi-objective wireless sensor network configuration optimization method is proposed. The proposed method aims to determine the optimal information and lifespan wireless sensor network for structural health monitoring of large-scale infrastructures. In particular, cluster-based wireless sensor networks with multi-type of sensors are considered. To optimize the lifetime of the wireless sensor network, a cluster-based network optimization algorithm that optimizes the arrangement of cluster heads and base station is developed. On the other hand, based on the Bayesian inference, the uncertainty of the estimated parameters can be quantified. The coefficient of variance of the estimated parameters can be obtained, which is utilized as a holistic measure to evaluate the estimation accuracy of sensor configurations with multi-type of sensors. The proposed method provides the optimal wireless sensor network configuration that satisfies the required estimation accuracy with the longest lifetime. The proposed method is illustrated by designing the optimal wireless sensor network configuration of a cable-stayed bridge and a space truss.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.63-75
• /
• 2022

The raw data collected by structural health monitoring (SHM) systems may suffer multiple patterns of anomalies, which pose a significant barrier for an automatic and accurate structural condition assessment. Therefore, the detection and classification of these anomalies is an essential pre-processing step for SHM systems. However, the heterogeneous data patterns, scarce anomalous samples and severe class imbalance make data anomaly detection difficult. In this regard, this study proposes a convolutional neural network-based data anomaly detection method. The time and frequency domains data are transferred as images and used as the input of the neural network for training. ResNet18 is adopted as the feature extractor to avoid training with massive labelled data. In addition, the focal loss function is adopted to soften the class imbalance-induced classification bias. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated using acceleration data collected in a long-span cable-stayed bridge. The proposed approach detects and classifies data anomalies with high accuracy.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.309-323
• /
• 2024

The gust factor and turbulence intensity are two crucial parameters that characterize the properties of turbulence. In tropical cyclones (TCs), these parameters exhibit significant variability, yet there is a lack of established formulas to account for their probabilistic characteristics with consideration of their inherent connection. On this condition, a probabilistic analysis of gust factors and turbulence intensities of TCs is conducted based on fourteen sets of wind data collected at the Sutong Cable-stayed Bridge site. Initially, the turbulence intensities and gust factors of recorded data are computed, followed by an analysis of their probability densities across different ranges categorized by mean wind speed. The Gaussian, lognormal, and generalized extreme value (GEV) distributions are employed to fit the measured probability densities, with subsequent evaluation of their effectiveness. The Gumbel distribution, which is a specific instance of the GEV distribution, has been identified as an optimal choice for probabilistic characterizations of turbulence intensity and gust factor in TCs. The corresponding empirical models are then established through curve fitting. By utilizing the Gumbel distribution as a template, the nexus between the probability density functions of turbulence intensity and gust factor is built, leading to the development of a generalized probabilistic model that statistically describe turbulence intensity and gust factor in TCs. Finally, these empirical models are validated using measured data and compared with suggestions recommended by specifications.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.9 no.5 s.45
• /
• pp.41-52
• /
• 2005

Using the variable control gain scheme on the basis of fuzzy-based decision-making process, Fuzzy supervisory control (FSC) technique exhibits better control performance than linear control technique with one static control gain. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the FSC technique by evaluating the robust performance of the FSC technique under the presence of uncertainties in the models and the excitations. Robust performance of the FSC system is compared with that of optimally designed LQG control system for the benchmark cable-stayed bridge presented by Dyke et al. Parameter studies on the robust performance evaluation are carried out by varying the stiffness of the bridge model as well as the magnitudes of several earthquakes with different frequency contents. From the comparative study of two control systems, FSC system shows the enhanced control performance against various magnitudes of several earthquakes while maintaining lower level of power required for controlling the bridge response. Especially, FSC system clearly guarantees the improved robust performance of the control system with stable reduction effects on the seismic responses and slight increases in total power and stroke for the control system, while LQG control system exhibits poor robust performance.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.267-279
• /
• 2023

Data modelling and interpretation for structural health monitoring (SHM) field data are critical for evaluating structural performance and quantifying the vulnerability of infrastructure systems. In order to improve the data modelling accuracy, and extend the application range from data regression analysis to out-of-sample forecasting analysis, an improved most likely heteroscedastic Gaussian process (iMLHGP) methodology is proposed in this study by the incorporation of the outof-sample forecasting algorithm. The proposed iMLHGP method overcomes this limitation of constant variance of Gaussian process (GP), and can be used for estimating non-stationary typhoon-induced response statistics with high volatility. The first attempt at performing data regression and forecasting analysis on structural responses using the proposed iMLHGP method has been presented by applying it to real-world filed SHM data from an instrumented cable-stay bridge during typhoon events. Uncertainty quantification and correlation analysis were also carried out to investigate the influence of typhoons on bridge strain data. Results show that the iMLHGP method has high accuracy in both regression and out-of-sample forecasting. The iMLHGP framework takes both data heteroscedasticity and accurate analytical processing of noise variance (replace with a point estimation on the most likely value) into account to avoid the intensive computational effort. According to uncertainty quantification and correlation analysis results, the uncertainties of strain measurements are affected by both traffic and wind speed. The overall change of bridge strain is affected by temperature, and the local fluctuation is greatly affected by wind speed in typhoon conditions.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.30 no.3A
• /
• pp.201-209
• /
• 2010

Generally, PSC girder bridge uses total gross cross section to resist applied loads unlike reinforced concrete member. Also, it is used as short and middle span (less than 30 m) bridges due to advantages such as ease of design and construction, reduction of cost, and convenience of maintenance. But, due to recent increased public interests for environmental friendly and appearance appealing bridges all over the world, the demands for longer span bridges have been continuously increasing. This trend is shown not only in ordinary long span bridge types such as cable supported bridges but also in PSC girder bridges. In order to meet the increasing demands for new type of long span bridges, PSC hollow box girder with H-type steel as compression reinforcements is developed for bridge with a single span of more than 50 m. The developed PSC girder applies compressive prestressing at H-type compression reinforcements using unbonded PS tendon. The purpose of compressive prestressing is to recover plastic displacement of PSC girder after long term service by releasing the prestressing. The static test composed of 4 different stages in 3-point bending test is performed to verify safety of the bridge. First stage loading is applied until tensile cracks form. Then in second stage, the load is removed and the girder is unloaded. In third stage, after removal of loading, recovery of remaining plastic deformation is verified as the compressive prestressing is removed at H-type reinforcements. Then, in fourth stage, loading is continued until the girder fails. The experimental results showed that the first crack occurs at 1,615 kN with a corresponding displacement of 187.0 mm. The introduction of the additional compressive stress in the lower part of the girder from the removal of unbonded compressive prestressing of the H-type steel showed a capacity improvement of about 60% (7.7 mm) recovery of the residual deformation (18.7 mm) that occurred from load increase. By using prestressed H-type steel as compression reinforcements in the upper part of cross section, repair and rehabilitation of PSC girders are relatively easy, and the cost of maintenance is expected to decrease.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.227-243
• /
• 2005

This paper presents a hybrid control system combining lead rubber bearings and hydraulic actuators for seismic response control of a cable stayed bridge. Because multiple control devices are operating, a hybrid control system could improve the control performances. However, the overall system robustness may be impacted negatively by additional active control devices. Therefore, a secondary on-off type controller according to the responses of lead rubber bearings is combined with LQG algorithm to improve the controller robustness. Numerical simulation results show that control performances of the hybrid system controlled by an on off type LQG algorithm are improved compared to those of the passive and active control systems and are similar to those of performance oriented hybrid system controlled by a LQG algorithm with the similar peak and normed control forces. Furthermore, it is verified that the hybrid system with an on-off type LQG controller is more robust for stiffness matrix perturbation than conventional hybrid control of system, and there are no signs of instability in the overall system. The proposed control system also maintains the control performance under not only the design earthquakes but also the other earthquakes. Therefore, the hybrid control system using on-off type LQG algorithm could be proposed as an improved control strategy for seismically excited cable-stayed bridges containing many uncertainties.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.587-597
• /
• 2007

Steel restrainer cables for multiple frame bridges in California in the United States have been shown to be effective in preventing unseating at internal hinges during the past several earthquakes. Consequently, the steel-cable-restrainer is being tested for applications on multiple-span-simply-supported (MSSS) bridges in the mid-American region. In addition, shape memory alloy (SMA) bars in tension are being studied for the same application, multiple frame bridges, the developed seismic forces are transferred to piers through the restrainers. However, in MSSS bridges, the seismic forces are transferred to abutments by the restrainers. Therefore, the abutment' behavior should also be investigated. In this study, we assessed the seismic performance of the three types of restrainers, such as steel restrainer cables, SMA in tension, and SMA in bending for an MSSS bridge from moderate to strong ground motion, bending test of an SMA bar was conducted and its analytical model was determined for this study. Nonlinear time history analyses were conducted to assess the seismic responses of the as-built and the retrofitted bridges. All three types of restrainers reduced the hinge opening and the SMA in tension was the most effective of the three devices in preventing the unseating, all restrainers produced damage on the abutment from the pulling action of the MSSS bridge due to strong ground motions, was found that the retrofit of the abutment in the pulling action is required in the installation of restrainers in MSSS bridges.