• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 2017

Identification of damping characteristics is of significant importance for dynamic response analysis and condition assessment of structural systems. Damping is associated with the behavior of the energy dissipation mechanism. Identification of damping ratios based on the sensitivity of dynamic responses and the model updating technique is investigated with numerical and experimental investigations. The effectiveness and performance of using the sensitivity-based model updating method and vibration monitoring data for damping ratios identification are investigated. Numerical studies on a three-dimensional truss bridge model are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Measurement noise effect and the initial finite element modelling errors are considered. The results demonstrate that the damping ratio identification with the proposed approach is not sensitive to the noise effect but could be affected significantly by the modelling errors. Experimental studies on a steel planar frame structure are conducted. The robustness and performance of the proposed damping identification approach are investigated with real measured vibration data. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach has a decent and reliable performance to identify the damping ratios.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.607-621
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• 2012

The Expo Culture Centre is one of the permanent buildings at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. The main structure has an oval shape and consists of 36 radial cantilever steel trusses with different lengths and inner frames made of concrete-filled rectangular steel tube members. Tuned mass dampers are used to reduce the excessive vibrations of the sixth floor that are caused by human-induced resonance. A three-dimensional analytical model of the system is developed, and its main characteristics are established. A series of field tests are performed on the structure, and the test results show that the vertical vibration frequencies of most structural cantilevers are between 2.5 Hz and 3.5 Hz, which falls in the range of human-induced vibration. Twelve pairs of tuned mass dampers weighing 115 tons total were installed in the structure to suppress the vibration response of the system. These mass dampers were tuned to the vertical vibration frequency of the structure, which had the highest possibility of excitation. Test data obtained after the installation of the tuned mass dampers are used to evaluate their effectiveness for the reduction of the vibration acceleration. An analytical model of the structure is calibrated according to the measured dynamic characteristics. An analysis of the modified model is performed and the results show that when people walk normally, the structural vibration was low and the tuned mass dampers have no effect, but when people run at the structural vibration frequency, the tuned mass dampers can reduce the floor vibration acceleration by approximately 15%.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.507-526
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• 2009

Based on numerical and experimental methods, a systematic structural evaluation of a steel natatorium in service was carried out in detail in this paper. Planning of inspection tasks was proposed firstly according to some national codes in China in order to obtain the economic and reliable results. The field visual inspections and static computation were conducted in turn under in-service environmental conditions. Further a three-dimensional finite element model was developed according to its factual geometry properties obtained from the field inspection. An analytical modal analysis was performed to provide the analytical modal properties. The field vibration tests on the natatorium were conducted and then two different system identification methods were used to obtain the dynamic characteristics of the natatorium. A good correlation was achieved in results obtained from the two system identification methods and the finite element method (FEM). The numerical and experimental results demonstrated that the main structure of the natatorium in its present status is safe and it still satisfies the demand of the national codes in China. But the roof system such as purlines and skeletons must be removed and rebuilt completely. Moreover the system identification results showed that field vibration test is sufficient to identify the reliable dynamic properties of the natatorium. The constructive suggestion on structural evaluation of the natatorium is that periodic assessment work must be maintained to ensure the natatorium's safety in the future.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.27-37
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• 1983

A method of dynamic analysis is developed for torsional free vibrations of elliptical-box girder type or stiffening truss system suspension bridge. In this study, the method based on a finite element technique using a digital computer, is illustrated by two numerical examples, the Namhae Bridge which is located in Kyungsang nam-do opened on June, 1973, and the Mt. Chunma Bridge is simple span pedestrian's suspension bridge with lateral bracing system in Mt. Chunma, Kyungki-do, are used. In general, dynamic modes of complex suspension bridges are three-dimensional in form, i.e., coupling between vertical and torsional motions. However, introduced that amplitudes of oscillation are infinitesimal for coincidence with the purpose of it's use, thereupon, the torsional vibration analyses are treated without coupling terms. A sufficient number of natural frequencies and mode shapes for torsional free vibration are presented in this paper. In the case of Mt. Chunma Bridge, the natural frequencies and periods are computed with and without reinforcement, respectively, and compared their discrepancies. The influence of the auxiliary reinforcing cables is prevailing in the first few modes, namely, 1st and 2nd in symmetric and 1st, 2nd and 3rd in antisymmetric vibration, and conspicuous in the symmetric compared with the antisymmetric motion, but in the higher modes, this kind of simple accessory elucidates rether converse effects. In the Namhae Bridge, the results are compared with the Manual's obtained by wind tunnel test. It reveals commendable agreement.