• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.611-614
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• 2004

In this study, ambient vibration tests are carried out to replace the current bridge integrity assessment using controlled vehicle test, which requires the traffic control and may induce public complains. Ambient vibration tests and output-only modal identification can be very effective approach to evaluate the bridge integrity because the ambient vibration tests can be performed very easily without trafnc control. The bridges in test road of Jungbu Inland Highway were tested and the results are discussed here.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

Ambient vibration tests were carried out to evaluate the dynamic properties of an asymmetric steel building with semi-rigid connections. The test case has many non-structural elements, constructed in the city of Tehran (Iran). The tests were conducted to obtain natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratio of the structure and then Fourier transform were used to analyze the velocity records obtained from the tests. The first and second natural periods of the building were obtained as 1.37 s and 1.28 s through the test and damping ratio for the first mode was calculated as 0.047. However, Natural periods obtained from finite element model have higher values from those gained from ambient vibration. Then the model was calibrated by modeling of the in-fill masonry panels at their exact locations and considering the boundary conditions by modeling two blocks near the block No. 3, but the differences were existed. These differences may be due to some hidden stiffness of nonstructural elements in the low range of elastic behavior, showing the structure stiffer than it is in reality.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.227-237
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• 2013

Modal testing, widely accepted and applied method for determining the dynamic characteristics of structures for operational conditions, uses known or unknown vibrations in structures. The method's common applications includes estimation of dynamic characteristics and also damage detection and monitoring of structural performance. In this study, the structural identification of concrete arch dams is determined using ambient vibration tests which is one of the modal testing methods. For the purpose, several ambient vibration tests are conducted to an arch dam. Sensitive accelerometers were placed on the different points of the crest and a gallery of the dam, and signals are collected for the process. Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition technique is used for the extraction of natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios. A total of eight natural frequencies are attained by experimentally for each test setup, which ranges between 0-12 Hz. The results obtained from each ambient vibration tests are presented and compared with each other in detail. There is a good agreement between the results for all measurements. However, the theoretical fundamental frequency of Berke Arch Dam is a little different from the experimental.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2002.11b
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• pp.687-692
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• 2002

In order to verify the effectiveness of adding visooelastic dampers to full-scale steel frame structure on the reduction of their seismic and wind response a experimental work was carried out. First, The test was conducted on the VE dampers subjected to sinusoidal excitations under a variety of ambient temperatures, frequency, and the damper strain. Results from these tests showed that the viscoelastic dampers have high energy dissipation capacity. Second, The vibration tests was conducted of the full-scale steel frame structure with md without added VE dampers at different temperatures. Viscoelastically damped full-scale structure test result on the effect of ambient temperature show that viscoelastic dampers are very effective in reducing excessive vibration of the structure due to sinusoidal excitation over a wide ringe of ambient temperature.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 2013

In this study, dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios of RC frame is determined for different construction stages using Operational Modal Analyses method under ambient vibration. Full scaled, one bay and one story RC frames are selected as an application for different construction stages such as plane, brick in-filled and brick in-filled with plaster. The RC frame is vibrated by natural excitations with small impact effects and the response signals are measured using sensitive accelerometers during ambient vibration tests. Measurement time-frequency span and effective mode number are determined by considering similar studies in literature. Sensitive seismic accelerometers are used to collect signals obtained from the experimental tests. To obtain experimental dynamic characteristics, output-only system identification technique is employed namely; Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition technique in the frequency domain. It is demonstrated that the ambient vibration measurements are enough to identify the most significant modes of RC frames.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.338-347
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• 2010

Heunginjimun designated as a Treasure No.1 is a two-story wooden structure with 5 bay and 2 bay in its front and side views, respectively. This paper presents an investigation on vibration characteristics of Heunginjimun through both ambient vibration and impact hammer tests. Ambient vibration test was performed to identify the natural frequency of Heunginjimun from the spectrum analysis of time history. Impact hammer test was undertaken to find the frequency of Heunginjimun which is affected by the surrounding traffics and to verify the reciprocal principle for the wooden structural system. Ambient vibration test results of Heunginjimun showed that the natural frequencies in two principal axes 1.5 Hz and 1.1 Hz, respectively. It was confirmed from impact hammer tests for a ground that the frequency of 4.2 Hz is caused by the traffics surrounding Heunginjimun. It was also observed that from the impact hammer test results between two locations in Heunginjimun that the transfer functions measured from two corresponding locations coincided well with each other. This result shows that the wooden structural system is globally linear, and the reciprocal principle is established.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.593-615
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• 2011

This study determines the water length effects on the modal behavior of a prototype arch dam using Operational and Analytical Modal Analyses. Achievement of this purpose involves construction of a prototype arch dam-reservoir-foundation model under laboratory conditions. In the model, reservoir length was taken to be as much as three times the dam height. To determine the experimental dynamic characteristics of the arch dam using Operational Modal Analysis, ambient vibration tests were implemented for empty reservoir and three different reservoir water lengths. In the ambient vibration tests, the dam was vibrated by natural excitations provided from small impact effects and the response signals were measured using sensitive accelerometers. Operational Modal Analysis software process signals collected from the ambient vibration tests, and Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition and Stochastic Subspace Identification techniques estimated modal parameters of the dams. To validate the experimental results, 3D finite element model of the prototype arch dam was modeled by ANSYS software for empty reservoir and three different reservoir water lengths, and dynamic characteristics of each model were determined analytically. At the end of the study, experimentally and analytically identified dynamic characteristics compared to each other. Also, changes on the natural frequencies along to water length are plotted as graphs. Results suggest that reservoir water complicates the modal behavior of the arch dam significantly.

• 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.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.803-818
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• 2013

In this study, analytical and experimental modal analyses of a scaled bridge model are carried out to extract the dynamic characteristics such as natural frequency, mode shapes and damping ratios. For this purpose, a scaled bridge model is constructed in laboratory conditions. Three dimensional finite element model of the bridge is constituted and dynamic characteristics are determined, analytically. To identify the dynamic characteristics experimentally; Experimental Modal Analyses (ambient and forced vibration tests) are conducted to the bridge model. In the ambient vibration tests, natural excitations are provided and the response of the bridge model is measured. Sensitivity accelerometers are placed to collect signals from the measurements. The signals collected from the tests are processed by Operational Modal Analysis; and the dynamic characteristics of the bridge model are estimated using Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition and Stochastic Subspace Identification methods. In the forced vibration tests, excitation of the bridge model is induced by an impact hammer and the frequency response functions are obtained. From the finite element analyses, a total of 8 natural frequencies are attained between 28.33 and 313.5 Hz. Considering the first eight mode shapes, these modes can be classified into longitudinal, transverse and vertical modes. It is seen that the dynamic characteristics obtained from the ambient and forced vibration tests are close to each other. It can be stated that the both of Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition and Stochastic Subspace Identification methods are very useful to identify the dynamic characteristics of the bridge model. The first eight natural frequencies are obtained from experimental measurements between 25.00-299.5 Hz. In addition, the dynamic characteristics obtained from the finite element analyses have a good correlation with experimental frequencies and mode shapes. The MAC values obtained between 90-100% and 80-100% using experimental results and experimental-analytical results, respectively.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.195-208
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• 2008

This paper summarizes the experimental vibration-based structural health monitoring study on a historical monument in Jordan. In this work, and within the framework of the European Commission funded project "wide-Range Non-Intrusive Devices Toward Conservation of Historical Monuments in the Mediterranean Area", a seven and a half century old minaret located in Ajloun (73 km north of the capital Amman) is studied. Because of their cultural value, touristic importance and the desire to preserve them for the future, only non-destructive tests were allowed for the experimental investigation of such heritage structures. Therefore, after dimensional measurements and determination of the current state of damage in the selected monument, ambient vibration tests are conducted to measure the accelerations at strategic locations of the system. Output-only modal identification technique is applied to extract the modal parameters such as natural frequencies and mode shapes. A Non-linear version of SAP 2000 computer program is used to develop a three-dimensional finite element model of the minaret. The developed numerical model is then updated according to the modal parameters obtained experimentally by the ambient-vibration test-results and the measured characteristics of old stone and deteriorated mortar. Moreover, a parametric identification method using the N4Sid state space model is employed to model the dynamic behavior of the minaret and to build up a robust, immune and noise tolerant model.