• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.369-378
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• 2021

This paper reviewed a few output-only system identification algorithms and identified the shortcomings of those popular blind source separation methods. To address the issues such as less sensors than the targeted modal modes (under-determinate problem), repeated natural frequencies as well as systems with complex mode shapes, this paper proposed a complex wavelet modified second order blind identification method (CWMSOBI) by transforming the time domain problem into time-frequency domain. The wavelet coefficients with different dominant frequencies can be used to address the under-determinate problem, while complex mode shapes are addressed by introducing the complex wavelet transformation. Numerical simulations with both high and low signal-to-noise ratios validate that CWMSOBI can overcome the above-mentioned issues while obtaining more accurate identified results than other blind identification methods.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.69-87
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• 2014

A new output only modal analysis method is developed in this paper. This method uses continuous wavelet transform to modify a popular blind source separation algorithm, second order blind identification (SOBI). The wavelet modified SOBI (WMSOBI) method replaces original time domain signal with selected time-frequency domain wavelet coefficients, which overcomes the shortcomings of SOBI. Both numerical and experimental studies on bridge models are carried out when there are limited number of sensors. Identified modal properties from WMSOBI are analyzed and compared with fast Fourier transform (FFT), SOBI and eigensystem realization algorithm (ERA). The comparison shows WMSOBI can identify as many results as FFT and ERA. Further case study of structural health monitoring (SHM) on an arch bridge verifies the capability to detect damages by combining WMSOBI with incomplete flexibility difference method.