• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.27-42
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• 2020

Dynamic stability of graded nonlocal nano-dimension plates on elastic substrate due to in-plane periodic loads has been researched via a novel 3- unknown plate theory based on exact position of neutral surface. Proposed theory confirms the shear deformation effects and contains lower field components in comparison to first order and refined 4- unknown plate theories. A modified power-law function has been utilized in order to express the porosity-dependent material coefficients. The equations of nanoplate have been represented in the context of Mathieu-Hill equations and Chebyshev-Ritz-Bolotin's approach has been performed to derive the stability boundaries. Detailed impacts of static/dynamic loading parameters, nonlocal constant, foundation parameters, material index and porosities on instability boundaries of graded nanoscale plates are researched.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.43-58
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• 2020

Pile foundations of existing bridges lie in soil and water environment for long term and endure relatively heavy vertical loads, thus prone to damages, especially after stricken by external forces, such as earthquake, collision, soil heap load and etc., and the piles may be injured to certain degrees as well. There is a relatively complete technical system for quality inspection of new bridge pile foundations without structures on the top. However, there is no mature technical standard in the engineering community for the non-destructive testing technology specific to the existing bridge pile foundations. The quality of bridge pile foundations has always been a major problem that plagues bridge maintenance. On the basis of many years' experiences in test engineering and theoretical studies, this study developed a new type of detection technology and equipment for the existing bridge piles.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2020

This study aims to develop the fuzzy risk assessment model of the debris flow to verify the accuracy of risk assessment in order to help related organizations reduce losses caused by landslides. In this study, actual cases of landslides that occurred are utilized as the database. The established models help us assess the occurrence of debris flows using computed indicators, and to verify the model errors. In addition, comparisons are made between the models to determine the best one to use in practical applications. The results prove that the risk assessment model systems are quite suitable for debris flow risk assessment. The reproduction consequences of highlight point discovery are shown in highlight guide coordinating toward discover steady and coordinating component focuses and effectively identified utilizing these two systems, by examining the variety in the distinguished highlights and the element coordinating.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.49-64
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• 2015

This paper presents a method for assessing the risk of wave run-up and overtopping of existing coastal defences and for analysing the probability of failure of the structures under future hydraulic conditions. The recent UK climate projections are employed in the investigations of the influence of changing environments on the long-term performance of sea defences. In order to reduce the risk of wave run-up and overtopping caused by rising sea level and to maintain the present-day allowances for wave run-up height and overtopping discharge, the future necessary increase in crest level of existing structures is investigated. Various critical failure mechanisms are considered for reliability analysis, i.e., erosion of crest by wave overtopping, failure of seaside revetment, and internal erosions within earth sea dykes. The time-dependent reliability of sea dykes is analysed to give probability of failure with time. The results for an example earth dyke section show that the necessary increase in crest level is approximately double of sea level rise to maintain the current allowances. The probability of failure for various failure modes of the earth dyke has a significant increase with time under future hydraulic conditions.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.157-174
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• 2016

Based on classical viscoelastic damper, a brand-new damper is designed by the change of simple construction to implement vibration control for both translational vibration and rotational vibration simultaneously. Theoretic analysis has been carried out on the restoring force model and the control parameters. Two improved models are presented to obtain high simulation precision. The influence of the size, shape of the viscoelastic material, the ambient temperature and the response frequency on the vibration control effect is analyzed. The numerical results show that the new type viscoelastic damper is capable of mitigating the multi-dimensional seismic response of offshore platform and the response control effect has complicated relations with aforementioned related factors.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.129-144
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• 2016

We present a methodology to validate with monitoring data finite element models of existing concrete dams: numerical analyses are performed to assess the structural response under the effects of seasonal loading conditions, represented by hydrostatic pressure on the upstream-downstream dam surfaces and thermal variations as recorded by a thermometers network. We show that the stiffness effect of the rock foundation and the surface degradation of concrete due to aging are crucial aspects to be accounted for a correct interpretation of the real behavior. This work summarizes some general procedures developed by this research group at Politecnico di Milano on traditional static monitoring systems and two significant case studies: a buttress gravity and an arch-gravity dam.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.215-232
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• 2016

This paper presents a multi helical ultrasonic imaging approach for quantitative corrosion damage monitoring of cylindrical structures. The approach consists of two stages. First a multi helical ultrasonic imaging (MHUI) algorithm is used to provide qualitative images of the structure of interest. Then, an optimization problem is solved in order to obtain quantitative damage information, such as thickness map. Experimental tests are carried out on a steel pipe instrumented with six piezoelectric transducers to validate the proposed approach. Three thickness recesses are considered to simulate corrosion damage. The results show the efficiency of the proposed approach for quantifying corrosion location, area and remnant thickness.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.71-90
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• 2016

The paper reports a wide overview of the scientific activities on Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) in Italy. They are classified on three different conceptual scales: national territory (macro); regional area (medium); single structure (small). In the latter case differences have been pointed out between permanent installation and short-term experimental campaigns. A particular focus has been dedicated to applications devoted to cultural heritage which have an important historic, strategic and economic value for Italy. Two specific cases, the first related to the permanent monitoring of an historical Basilica and the second regarding the dynamic testing of a modern structure, have been presented as a basis for a general discussion.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2016

The Pulse-Pre Pump Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (PPP-BOTDA) technique is introduced to implement the multi-direction strain measurement. The monitoring principle is stated. The layout scheme of optical fibers is proposed. The temperature compensation formula and its realizing method are given. The experiments, under tensile load, combined bending and tensile load, are implemented to validate the feasibility of the proposed method. It is shown that the PPP-BOTDA technique can be used to discriminate the multi-direction strains with high spatial resolution and precision.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.231-247
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• 2014

This paper focuses on the dynamic behaviour of Mirandola City Hall (a XV century Renaissance Palace) that was severely damaged during May 2012 Emilia earthquake in Northern Italy. Experimental investigations have been carried out on this monumental building. Firstly, detailed investigations have been carried out to identify the identification of the geometry of the main constructional parts as well as the mechanical features of the constituting materials of the palace. Then, Ambient Vibration Tests (AVT) have been applied, for the detection of the main dynamic features. Three output-only identification methods have been compared: (i) the Frequency Domain Decomposition, (ii) the Random Decrement (RD) and the (iii) Eigensystem Realization Algorithm (ERA). The modal parameters of the Palace were difficult to be identified due to the severe structural damage; however the two bending modes in the perpendicular directions were identified. The comparison of the three experimental techniques showed a good agreement confirming the reliability of the three identification methods.