• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.15-29
• /
• 2019

This paper addresses the problem of damage detection in suspension bridge hangers, with an emphasis on the modal flexibility method. It aims at evaluating the capability and the accuracy of the modal flexibility method to detect and locate single and multiple damages in suspension bridge hangers, with different level of severity and various locations. The study is conducted numerically and experimentally on a laboratory suspension bridge mock-up. First, the covariance-driven stochastic subspace identification is used to extract the modal parameters of the bridge from experimental data, using only output measurements data from ambient vibration. Then, the method is demonstrated for several damage scenarios and compared against other classical methods, such as: Coordinate Modal Assurance Criterion (COMAC), Enhanced Coordinate Modal Assurance Criterion (ECOMAC), Mode Shape Curvature (MSC) and Modal Strain Energy (MSE). The paper demonstrates the relative merits and shortcomings of these methods which play a significant role in the damage detection ofsuspension bridges.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.283-294
• /
• 2020

In this paper, an adaptive MEMD based modal identification technique for linear time-invariant systems is proposed employing multiple vibration measurements. Traditional empirical mode decomposition (EMD) suffers from mode-mixing during sifting operations to identify intrinsic mode functions (IMF). MEMD performs better in this context as it considers multi-channel data and projects them into a n-dimensional hypercube to evaluate the IMFs. Using this technique, modal parameters of the structural system are identified. It is observed that MEMD has superior performance compared to its traditional counterpart. However, it still suffers from mild mode-mixing in higher modes where the energy contents are low. To avoid this problem, an adaptive filtering scheme is proposed to decompose the interfering modes. The Proposed modified scheme is then applied to vibrations of a reinforced concrete road bridge. Results presented in this study show that the proposed MEMD based approach coupled with the filtering technique can effectively identify the parameters of the dominant modes present in the structural response with a significant level of accuracy.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.257-280
• /
• 2014

In this paper, a novel PARAllel FACtor (PARAFAC) decomposition based Blind Source Separation (BSS) algorithm is proposed for modal identification of structures equipped with tuned mass dampers. Tuned mass dampers (TMDs) are extremely effective vibration absorbers in tall flexible structures, but prone to get de-tuned due to accidental changes in structural properties, alteration in operating conditions, and incorrect design forecasts. Presence of closely spaced modes in structures coupled with TMDs renders output-only modal identification difficult. Over the last decade, second-order BSS algorithms have shown significant promise in the area of ambient modal identification. These methods employ joint diagonalization of covariance matrices of measurements to estimate the mixing matrix (mode shape coefficients) and sources (modal responses). Recently, PARAFAC BSS model has evolved as a powerful multi-linear algebra tool for decomposing an $n^{th}$ order tensor into a number of rank-1 tensors. This method is utilized in the context of modal identification in the present study. Covariance matrices of measurements at several lags are used to form a $3^{rd}$ order tensor and then PARAFAC decomposition is employed to obtain the desired number of components, comprising of modal responses and the mixing matrix. The strong uniqueness properties of PARAFAC models enable direct source separation with fine spectral resolution even in cases where the number of sensor observations is less compared to the number of target modes, i.e., the underdetermined case. This capability is exploited to separate closely spaced modes of the TMDs using partial measurements, and subsequently to estimate modal parameters. The proposed method is validated using extensive numerical studies comprising of multi-degree-of-freedom simulation models equipped with TMDs, as well as with an experimental set-up.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.653-663
• /
• 2017

The modal parameters of the deck of Runyang Suspension Bridge (RSB) as well as their relationships with wind and temperature are studied based on the data recorded by its Structural Health Monitoring System (SHMS). Firstly, frequency analysis on the vertical responses at the two sides of the deck is carried out to distinguish the vertical and torsional vibration modes. Then, the vertical, torsional and lateral modal parameters of the deck of RSB are identified using Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) and validated by the identified results before RSB was opened to traffic. On the basis of this, the modal frequencies and damping ratios of RSB during the whole process of Typhoon Masta are obtained. And the correlation analysis on the modal parameters and wind environmental factors is then conducted. Results show that the HHT can achieve an accurate modal identification of RSB and the damping ratios show an obvious decay trend as the frequencies increase. Besides, compared to frequencies, the damping ratios are more sensitive to the environmental factors, in particular, the wind speed. Further study on configuring the variation law of modal parameters related with environmental factors should be continued.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.426-439
• /
• 1988

Dynamic properties such as stiffness and damping of mechanical joints are essential for the accurate prediction of the dynamic behaviors of the system and subsequent improvement of the design. So far several techniques, analytical, experimental, or both have been developed. A technique using condensed F.E.M. model and Experimental Modal Analysis is presented to identify the joint structural parameters. First, modal parameters of structure are measured by certain complex frequency obtained from experiment to match with the order of the Experimental Modal Analysis model. Finally by equating the modal parameters obtained from experiment with those of the condensed system, the unknown joint structural parameters can be identified. A simulation study is conducted to investigate the accuracy of technique. The experiments are performed with ball bearings in a rotor bearing system.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
• /
• v.18 no.12
• /
• pp.2114-2124
• /
• 2004

In this paper, a structural damage identification method (SDIM) is developed for cylindrical shells and the numerically simulated damage identification tests are conducted to study the feasibility of the proposed SDIM. The SDIM is derived from the frequency response function solved from the structural dynamic equations of damaged cylindrical shells. A damage distribution function is used to represent the distribution and magnitudes of the local damages within a cylindrical shell. In contrast with most existing modal parameters-based SDIMs which require the modal parameters measured in both intact and damaged states, the present SDIM requires only the FRF-data measured in the damaged state. By virtue of utilizing FRF-data, one is able to make the inverse problem of damage identification well-posed by choosing as many sets of excitation frequency and FRF measurement point as needed to obtain a sufficient number of equations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.315-332
• /
• 2011

The Combined Deterministic Stochastic Subspace based System Identification Technique (CDSSSIT) is a powerful input-output system identification technique which is known to be always convergent and numerically stable. The technique determines a Kalman state sequence from the projection of the output-input data. The state space matrices are determied subsequently from this Kalman state sequence using least squares. The objective of this paper is to examine the efficiency of the CDSSSIT in identifying the modal parameters (frequencies and mode shapes) of a stiff structure. The results show that the CDSSSIT predicts the modal parameters of stiff buildings quite accurately but is very sensitive to the location of sensors.

• Journal of KSNVE
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.60-69
• /
• 1999

In the first paper of this research$^{(1)}$. a new time series method. directional ARMAX (dARMAX) model-based approach. was proposed for rotordynamics identification. The dARMAX processes complex-valued signals, utilizing the complex modal testing theory which enables the separation of the backward and forward modes in the two-sided frequency domain and makes effective modal parameter identification possible. to account for the dynamic characteristics inherent in rotating machinery. In this second part. an evaluation of its performance characteristics based on both simulated and experimental data is presented. Numerical simulations are carried out to show that the method. a complex time series method. successfully implements the complex modal testing in the time domain. and it is superior in nature to the conventional ARMAX and the frequency-domain methods in the estimation of the modal parameters for isotropic and weakly anisotropic rotor systems. Experiments are carried out to demonstrate the applicability and the effectiveness of the dARMAX model-based approach, following the proposed fitting strategy. for the rotordynamics identification.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.157-178
• /
• 2013

Output-only modal parameter identification is based on the assumption that external forces on a linear structure are white noise. However, harmonic excitations are also often present in real structural vibrations. In particular, it has been realized that the use of forced acceleration responses without knowledge of external forces can pose a problem in the modal parameter identification, because an external force is imparted to its impulse acceleration response function. This paper provides a three-stage identification procedure as a solution to the problem of harmonic and white noise excitations in the acceleration responses of a linear dynamic system. This procedure combines the uses of the mode indicator function, the complex mode indication function, the enhanced frequency response function, an iterative rational fraction polynomial method and mode shape inspection for the correlation-related functions of the force-embedded acceleration responses. The procedure is verified via numerical simulation of a five-floor shear building and a two-dimensional frame and also applied to ambient vibration data of a large-span roof structure. Results show that the modal parameters of these dynamic systems can be satisfactorily identified under the requirement of wide separation between vibration modes and harmonic excitations.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2001.10a
• /
• pp.109-116
• /
• 2001

An integrated damage identification system (IDIS) and system identification (SID) technique using modal information to detect damage in structures is presented. The objective is to detect damages in cracked model plate-girder without baseline modal parameters. The theory of damage localization and system identification is outlined. Experiments on a model plate-girder was described and a baseline model representing the experimental modal characteristics of the model plate-girder is updated using the system identification technique. Finally, damage inflicted in the model plate-girder is predicted using the IDIS software.