• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.475-490
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• 2019

The detection of structural damage without a priori information on the healthy state is challenging. In order to address the issue, the study presents a baseline-free approach to detect damage in beam structures based on an actual influence line. In particular, a multi-segment function-fitting calculation is developed to extract the actual deflection influence line (DIL) of a damaged beam from bridge responses due to a passing vehicle. An intact basis function based on the measurement position is introduced. The damage index is defined as the difference between the actual DIL and a constructed function related to the intact basis, and the damage location is indicated based on the local peak value of the damage index curve. The damage basis function is formulated by using the detected damage location. Based on the intact and damage basis functions, damage severity is quantified by fitting the actual DIL using the least-square calculation. Both numerical and experimental examples are provided to investigate the feasibility of the proposed method. The results indicate that the present baseline-free approach is effective in detecting the damage of beam structures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2021

This study aimed to develop a method for the determination of the damaged story in reinforced concrete (RC) structure with ambient vibrations, based on modified jerk energy methodology. The damage was taken as a localized reduction in the stiffness of the structural member. For loading, random white noise excitation was used, and dynamic responses from the finite element model (FEM) of 4 story RC shear frame were extracted at nodal points. The data thus obtained from the structure was used in the damage detection and localization algorithm. In the structure, two damage configurations have been introduced. In the first configuration, damage to the structure was artificially caused by a local reduction in the modulus of elasticity. In the second configuration, the damage was caused, using the Elcentro1940 and Kashmir2005 earthquakes in real-time history. The damage was successfully detected if the frequency drop was greater than 5% and the mode shape correlation remained less than 0.8. The results of the damage were also compared to the performance criteria developed in the Seismostruct software. It is demonstrated that the proposed algorithm has effectively detected the existence of the damage and can locate the damaged story for multiple damage scenarios in the RC structure.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.315-334
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• 2015

A main goal of this study is to propose a damage detection technique to detect and localize damages of a top-tensioned riser. In this paper, the top-tensioned finite element (FE) model is considered as an analytical model of the riser, and a vibration-based damage detection method is proposed. The present method consists of a FE model updating and damage index method. In order to accomplish the goal of this study, first, a sensitivity-based FE model updating method using natural frequencies and zero frequencies is introduced. Second, natural frequencies and zero frequencies of the axial mode on the top-tensioned riser are estimated by eigenvalue analysis. Finally, the locations and severities of the damages are estimated from the damage index method. Three numerical examples are considered to verify the performance of the proposed method.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.277-290
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• 2018

In this paper, wavelet finite element model (WFEM) updating technique is employed to detect sub-element damage in thin plate structures progressively. The procedure of WFEM-based detection method, which can detect sub-element damage gradually, is established. This method involves the optimization of an objective function that combines frequencies and modal assurance criteria (MAC). During the damage detection process, the scales of wavelet elements in the concerned regions are adaptively enhanced or reduced to remain compatible with the gradually identified damage scenarios, while the modal properties from the tests remains the same, i.e., no measurement point replacement or addition are needed. Numerical and experimental examples were conducted to examine the effectiveness of the proposed method. A scanning Doppler laser vibrometer system was employed to measure the plate mode shapes in the experimental study. The results indicate that the proposed method can detect structural damage with satisfactory accuracy by using minimal degrees-of-freedoms (DOFs) in the model and minimal updating parameters in optimization.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.285-305
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• 2014

This study employs a novel beam-type wavelet finite element model (WFEM) to fulfill an adaptive-scale damage detection strategy in which structural modeling scales are not only spatially varying but also dynamically changed according to actual needs. Dynamical equations of beam structures are derived in the context of WFEM by using the second-generation cubic Hermite multiwavelets as interpolation functions. Based on the concept of modal strain energy, damage in beam structures can be detected in a progressive manner: the suspected region is first identified using a low-scale structural model and the more accurate location and severity of the damage can be estimated using a multi-scale model with local refinement in the suspected region. Although this strategy can be implemented using traditional finite element methods, the multi-scale and localization properties of the WFEM considerably facilitate the adaptive change of modeling scales in a multi-stage process. The numerical examples in this study clearly demonstrate that the proposed damage detection strategy can progressively and efficiently locate and quantify damage with minimal computation effort and a limited number of sensors.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.173-191
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• 2010

Damage detection plays a very important role to the maintenance of bridge structures. Traditional damage detection methods are usually based on structural dynamic properties, which are acquired from pre-installed sensors on the bridge. This is not only time-consuming and costly, but also suffers from poor sensitivity to damage if only natural frequencies and mode shapes are concerned in a noisy environment. Recently, the idea of using the dynamic responses of a passing vehicle shows a convenient and economical way for damage detection of bridge structures. Inspired by this new idea and the well-established tap test in the field of non-destructive testing, this paper proposes a new method for obtaining the damage information through the acceleration of a passing vehicle enhanced by a tapping device. Since no finger-print is required of the intact structure, this method can be easily implemented in practice. The logistics of this method is illustrated by a vehicle-bridge interaction model, along with the sensitivity analysis presented in detail. The validity of the method is proved by some numerical examples, and remarks are given concerning the potential implementation of the method as well as the directions for future research.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.681-697
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• 2009

Limited, noisy data in vibration testing is a hindrance to the development of structural damage detection. This paper presents a method for optimizing sensor placement and performing damage detection using finite element model updating. Sensitivity analysis of the modal flexibility matrix determines the optimal sensor locations for collecting information on structural damage. The optimal sensor locations require the instrumentation of only a limited number of degrees of freedom. Using noisy modal data from only these limited sensor locations, a method based on model updating and changes in the flexibility matrix successfully determines the location and severity of the imposed damage in numerical simulations. In addition, a steel cantilever beam experiment performed in the laboratory that considered the effects of model error and noise tested the validity of the method. The results show that the proposed approach effectively and robustly detects structural damage using limited, optimal sensor information.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.447-455
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• 2021

Research on damage detection methods in structures began a few decades ago with the introduction of methods based on structural vibration frequencies, which, of course, continues to this day. The value of important structures, on the one hand, and the countless maintenance costs on the other hand, have led researchers to always try to identify more accurate methods to diagnose damage to structures in the early stages. Among these, one of the most important and widely used methods in damage detection is the use of time-frequency representations. By using time-frequency representations, it is possible to process signals simultaneously in the time and frequency domains. In this research, the Short-Time Fourier transform, a known time-frequency function, has been used to process signals and identify the system. Besides, a new damage index has been introduced to identify damages in concrete piers of bridges. The proposed method has relatively simple calculations. To evaluate the method, the finite element model of an existing concrete bridge was created using as-built details. Based on the results, the method identifies the damages with high accuracy.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.29-43
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• 2023

This study investigates the possibility of damage detection of a real bridge by means of a modal parameter-based finite element (FE) model update. Field moving vehicle experiments were conducted on an actual steel plate girder bridge. In the damage experiment, cracks were applied to the bridge to simulate damage states. A fast Bayesian FFT method was employed to identify and quantify uncertainties of the modal parameters then these modal parameters were used in the Bayesian model update. Material properties and boundary conditions are taken as uncertainties and updated in the model update process. Observations showed that although some differences existed in the results obtained from different model classes, the discrepancy between modal parameters of the FE model and those experimentally obtained was reduced after the model update process, and the updated parameters in the numerical model were indeed affected by the damage. The importance of boundary conditions in the model updating process is also observed. The capability of the MCMC model update method for application to the actual bridge structure is assessed, and the limitation of FE model update in damage detection of bridges using only modal parameters is observed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.715-732
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• 2011

A novel structural damage detection method with a new damage index has been recently proposed by the authors based on the statistical moments of dynamic responses of shear building structures subject to white noise ground motion. The statistical moment-based damage detection (SMBDD) method is theoretically extended in this paper with general application. The generalized SMBDD method is more versatile and can identify damage locations and damage severities of many types of building structures under various external excitations. In particular, the incomplete measurements can be considered by the proposed method without mode shape expansion or model reduction. Various damage scenarios of two general forms of building structures with incomplete measurements are investigated in consideration of different excitations. The effects of measurement noise are also investigated. The damage locations and damage severities are correctly identified even when a high noise level of 15% and incomplete measurements are considered. The effectiveness and versatility of the generalized SMBDD method are demonstrated.