• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.223-242
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• 2015

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have emerged as a novel solution to many of the challenges of structural health monitoring (SHM) in civil engineering structures. While research projects using WSNs are ongoing worldwide, implementations of WSNs on full-scale structures are limited. In this study, a WSN is deployed on a full-scale 17.3m-long, 11-bay highway sign support structure to investigate the ability to use vibration response data to detect damage induced in the structure. A multi-level damage detection strategy is employed for this structure: the Angle-between-String-and-Horizon (ASH) flexibility-based algorithm as the Level I and the Axial Strain (AS) flexibility-based algorithm as the Level II. For the proposed multi-level damage detection strategy, a coarse resolution Level I damage detection will be conducted first to detect the damaged region(s). Subsequently, a fine resolution Level II damage detection will be conducted in the damaged region(s) to locate the damaged element(s). Several damage cases are created on the full-scale highway sign support structure to validate the multi-level detection strategy. The multi-level damage detection strategy is shown to be successful in detecting damage in the structure in these cases.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.69 no.4
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• pp.407-416
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• 2019

This paper develops a wireless sensor for online fatigue crack detection and failure warning based on crack-induced nonlinear ultrasonic modulation. The wireless sensor consists of packaged piezoelectric (PZT) module, an excitation/sensing module, a data acquisition/processing module, a wireless communication module, and a power supply module. The packaged PZT and the excitation/sensing module generate ultrasonic waves on a structure and capture the response. Based on nonlinear ultrasonic modulation created by a crack, the data acquisition/processing module periodically performs fatigue crack diagnosis and provides failure warning if a component failure is imminent. The outcomes are transmitted to a base through the wireless communication module where two-levels duty cycling media access control (MAC) is implemented. The uniqueness of the paper lies in that 1) the proposed wireless sensor is developed specifically for online fatigue crack detection and failure warning, 2) failure warning as well as crack diagnosis are provided based on crack-induced nonlinear ultrasonic modulation, 3) event-driven operation of the sensor, considering rare extreme events such as earthquakes, is made possible with a power minimization strategy, and 4) the applicability of the wireless sensor to steel welded members is examined through field and laboratory tests. A fatigue crack on a steel welded specimen was successfully detected when the overall width of the crack was around $30{\mu}m$, and a failure warnings were provided when about 97.6% of the remaining useful fatigue lives were reached. Four wireless sensors were deployed on Yeongjong Grand Bridge in Souht Korea. The wireless sensor consumed 282.95 J for 3 weeks, and the processed results on the sensor were transmitted up to 20 m with over 90% success rate.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.385-394
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• 2022

Recently, an increasing number of cutting-edged studies have shown that designing a smart active control for real-time implementation requires piles of hard-work criteria in the design process, including performance controllers to reduce the tracking errors and tolerance to external interference and measure system disturbed perturbations. This article proposes an effective artificial-intelligence method using these rigorous criteria, which can be translated into general control plants for the management of civil engineering installations. To facilitate the calculation, an efficient solution process based on linear matrix (LMI) inequality has been introduced to verify the relevance of the proposed method, and extensive simulators have been carried out for the numerical constructive model in the seismic stimulation of the active rigidity. Additionally, a fuzzy model of the neural network based system (NN) is developed using an interconnected method for LDI (linear differential) representation determined for arbitrary dynamics. This expression is constructed with a nonlinear sector which converts the nonlinear model into a multiple linear deformation of the linear model and a new state sufficient to guarantee the asymptomatic stability of the Lyapunov function of the linear matrix inequality. In the control design, we incorporated H Infinity optimized development algorithm and performance analysis stability. Finally, there is a numerical practical example with simulations to show the results. The implication results in the RMS response with as well as without tuned mass damper (TMD) of the benchmark building under the external excitation, the El-Centro Earthquake, in which it also showed the simulation using evolved bat algorithmic LMI fuzzy controllers in term of RMS in acceleration and displacement of the building.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2023

Various efforts have been made to reduce the weight of concrete slabs while preserving their flexural strength. This will result in reducing deflection and allows the utilization of longer spans. The top zone of the slab requires concrete to create the compression block for flexural strength, and the tension zone needs concrete to join with reinforcing for flexural strength. Also, the top and bottom slab faces must be linked to transmit stresses. Voided slab systems were and are still used to make long-span slab buildings lighter. Eight slab specimens of (1000^*1000 (1000^*1000 mm²) were cast and tested as two-way simply supported slabs in this research. The tested specimens consist of one solid slab and seven voided slabs with the following variables (type of slab solid and voided), thickness of slab (100 and 125 mm), presence of steel fibers (0% and 1%), and the number of GFRP layers). The voids in slabs were made using high-density polystyrene of dimensions (200^*200^*50 mm) with a central hole of dimensions (50^*50^*50 mm) at the ineffective concrete zones to give a reduction in weight by (34% to 38%). The slabs were tested as simply supported slabs under partial uniform loading. The results of specimens subjected to monotonic loading show that the combined strengthening by steel fibers and GFRP sheets of the concrete specimen (V-125-2GF-1%) shows the least deflection, deflection (4.6 mm), good ultimate loading capacity (192 MPa), large stiffness at cracking and at ultimate (57 and 41.74) respectively, more ductility (1.44), and high energy absorption (1344.83 kN.mm); so it's the best specimen that can be used as a voided slab under this type of loading.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.145-163
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• 2024

The evaluation of dynamic characteristics of bridges under operational traffic loads is a crucial aspect of bridge structural health monitoring. In the vehicle-bridge interaction (VBI) system, the vibration responses of bridge exhibit time-varying characteristics. To address this issue, an accurate time-frequency analysis method that combines the autoregressive power spectrum based empirical wavelet transform (AR-EWT) and local maximum synchrosqueezing transform (LMSST) is proposed to identify the time-varying instantaneous frequencies (IFs) of the bridge in the VBI system. The AR-EWT method decomposes the vibration response of the bridge into mono-component signals. Then, LMSST is employed to identify the IFs of each mono-component signal. The AR-EWT combined with the LMSST method (AR-EWT+LMSST) can resolve the problem that LMSST cannot effectively identify the multi-component signals with weak amplitude components. The proposed AR-EWT+LMSST method is compared with some advanced time-frequency analysis techniques such as synchrosqueezing transform (SST), synchroextracting transform (SET), and LMSST. The results demonstrate that the proposed AR-EWT+LMSST method can improve the accuracy of identified IFs. The effectiveness and applicability of the proposed method are validated through a multi-component signal, a VBI numerical model with a four-degree-of-freedom half-car, and a VBI model experiment. The effect of vehicle characteristics, vehicle speed, and road surface roughness on the identified IFs of bridge are investigated.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.315-337
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• 2023

During the design phase, it is crucial to determine the interface stresses between the reinforcing plate and the concrete base in order to predict plate end separation failures. In this work, a simple theoretical study of interface shear stresses in beams reinforced with P-FGM and E-FGM plates subjected to an arbitrarily positioned point load, or two symmetrical point loads, was presented using the linear elastic theory. The presence of pores in the reinforcing plate distributed in several forms was also taken into account. For this purpose, we analyze the effects of porosity and its distribution shape on the interracial normal and shear stresses of an FGM beam reinforced with an FRP plate under different types of load. Comparisons of the proposed model with existing analytical solutions in the literature confirm the feasibility and accuracy of this new approach. The influence of different parameters on the interfacial behavior of reinforced concrete beams reinforced with functionally graded porous plates is further examined in this parametric study using the proposed model. From the results obtained in this study, we can say that interface stress is significantly affected by several factors, including the pores present in the reinforcing plate and their distribution shape. Additionally, we can conclude from this study that reinforcement systems with composite plates are very effective in improving the flexural response of reinforced RC beams.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.17 no.6 s.79
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• pp.681-688
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• 2005

This study investigates an existing steel plate girder railroad bridge after superstructure rehabilitation to monitor static and dynamic responses using Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors. This paper also presents an experimental technique to estimate the vertical deflection of the bridge using FBG sensors. Seven FBG sensors are multiplexed in a single optical fiber and installed in parallel pairs along the length of the bridge, with one set at the top flange and the other at the bottom flange. In addition to FBG sensors, a conventional electric strain gauge and anLVDT are installed at the mid-span of the bridge for comparison. A test train consisting of one locomotive is placed at the center of the bridge to produce the maximum static effect. The train is also made to pass over the bridge at different speeds ranging from 10 km/h to 90 km/h to monitor the dynamic response of the bridge. This study demonstrates that the measured strains using the FBG sensor compared well with the readings from the electric strain gauge. The results show that the proposed instrumentation technique is capable of estimating the vertical deflection of the bridge for various loading conditions, which is crucial in structural health monitoring. Several dynamic characteristics of the bridge were also identified.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.863-868
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• 2016

In this study, the precise shapes of sunken ships and information on seafloor topography were analyzed using data obtained from a multi-beam echo sounder. The state of each sunken ship was analyzed by processing diverse imagery data which was compared with data obtained from past investigations to determine changes in the state and circumjacent seafloor topography. Apparent changes in the seafloor topography around one sunken ship, the "Pacific Friend", were found from stern to bow as a result of continued submarine erosion and sedimentation. In the case of sunken ship "No. 7 Haeseong", the partial collapse of the bow was revealed in the seabed images captured in 2015, though it had still been intact in images captured during the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency's investigation in 2011. This partial collapse was presumed to have resulted from the effects of continued tidal currents, the cargo load of the ship and continued corrosion of the ship over a long time on the seabed. Continuous monitoring of residual fuel inside the ship is necessary to avoid leakage and potential marine pollution. By conducting image analysis on these sunken ships, it has been determined that the structural safety of the ships is seriously influenced by tidal currents and seafloor topography, while the hulls will be continuously changed by corrosion. As a result, it can be concluded that the development of prediction and response techniques that take into consideration residual fuel leakage and environmental changes according to the geological characteristics of sunken ships is necessary.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.131-154
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• 2012

In this paper, it is aimed to determine the seismic behaviour of highway bridges by nondestructive testing using ambient vibration measurements. Eynel Highway Bridge which has arch type structural system with a total length of 216 m and located in the Ayvaclk county of Samsun, Turkey is selected as an application. The bridge connects the villages which are separated with Suat U$\breve{g}$urlu Dam Lake. A three dimensional finite element model is first established for a highway bridge using project drawings and an analytical modal analysis is then performed to generate natural frequencies and mode shapes in the three orthogonal directions. The ambient vibration measurements are carried out on the bridge deck under natural excitation such as traffic, human walking and wind loads using Operational Modal Analysis. Sensitive seismic accelerometers are used to collect signals obtained from the experimental tests. To obtain experimental dynamic characteristics, two output-only system identification techniques are employed namely, Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition technique in the frequency domain and Stochastic Subspace Identification technique in time domain. Analytical and experimental dynamic characteristic are compared with each other and finite element model of the bridge is updated by changing of boundary conditions to reduce the differences between the results. It is demonstrated that the ambient vibration measurements are enough to identify the most significant modes of highway bridges. After finite element model updating, maximum differences between the natural frequencies are reduced averagely from 23% to 3%. The updated finite element model reflects the dynamic characteristics of the bridge better, and it can be used to predict the dynamic response under complex external forces. It is also helpful for further damage identification and health condition monitoring. Analytical model of the bridge before and after model updating is analyzed using 1992 Erzincan earthquake record to determine the seismic behaviour. It can be seen from the analysis results that displacements increase by the height of bridge columns and along to middle point of the deck and main arches. Bending moments have an increasing trend along to first and last 50 m and have a decreasing trend long to the middle of the main arches.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.349-359
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• 2016

In order to analytically evaluate buffeting responses, the analysis of wind characteristics such as turbulence intensity, turbulence length, gust, roughness coefficient, etc must be a priority. Static aerodynamic force coefficients, flutter coefficients, structural damping ratios, aerodynamic damping ratios and natural frequencies affect the analytical responses. The bridge interested in this paper has being been used for 32 years. As the time passes, current terrain conditions around the bridge are different markedly from the conditions it was built 32 years ago. Also, wind environments were considerably varied by the climate change. For this reason, it is necessary to evaluate the turbulence intensity, length, spectrum and roughness coefficient of the bridge site from full-scale measurements using the structural health monitoring system. The evaluation results indicate that wind characteristics of bridge site is analogous to that of open terrain although the bridge is located on the coastal area. To calculate buffeting responses, the analysis variables such as damping ratios, static aerodynamic force coefficients and natural frequency were evaluated from measured data. The analysis was performed with regard to 4 cases. The evaluated variables from measured data are applied to the first and second analysis cases. And the other analysis cases were performed based on Design Guidelines for Steel Cable Supported Bridges. The calculated responses of each analysis cases are compared with the buffeting response measured at less than 25m/s wind speed. It is verified that the responses by the numerical analysis applying the estimated variables based on full-scale measurements are well agreed with the measured actual buffeting responses under wind speed 25m/s. Also, the extreme wind speed corresponding to a recurrence interval 200 years is derived from Gumbel distribution. The derived wind speed for return period of 200 years is 45m/s. Therefore the buffeting responses at wind speed 45m/s is determined by the analysis applying the estimated variables.