Wavelet-based iterative data enhancement for implementation in purification of modal frequency for extremely noisy ambient vibration tests in Shiraz-Iran

The main purpose of the present study is to enhance high-level noisy data by a wavelet-based iterative filtering algorithm for identification of natural frequencies during ambient wind vibrational tests on a petrochemical process tower.Most of denoising methods fail to filter such noise properly.Both the signal-to-noise ratio and the peak signal-to-noise ratio are small.Multiresolution-based one-step and variational-based filtering methods fail to denoise properly with thresholds obtained by theoretical or empirical method.Duc to the fact that it is impossible to completely denoise such high-level noisy data,the enhancing approach is used to improve the data quality,which is the main novelty from the application point of view here.For this iterative method,a simple computational approach is proposed to estimate the dynamic threshold values.Hence,different thresholds can be obtained for different recorded signals in one ambient test.This is in contrast to commonly used approaches recommending one global threshold estimated mainly by an empirical method.After the enhancements,modal frequencies are directly detected by the cross wavelet transform(XWT),the spectral power density and autocorrelation of wavelet coefficients.Estimated frequencies are then compared with those of an undamaged-model,simulated by the finite element method.

Ambient vibration testing and updating of the finite element model of a simply supported beam bridge

An ambient vibration test on a concrete bridge constructed in 1971 and calibration of its finite element model are presented.The bridge is characterized by a system of post-tensioned and simply supported beams.The dynamic characteristics of the bridge,i.e.natural frequencies,mode shapes and damping ratios were computed from the ambient vibration tests by using the Eigensystem Realization Algorithm(ERA).Then,these characteristics were used to update the finite element model of the bridge by formulating an optimization problem and then using Genetic Algorithms(GA)to solve it.From the results of the ambient vibration test of this type of bridge,it is concluded that two-dimensional mode shapes exist:in the longitudinal and transverse;and these experimentally obtained dynamic characteristics were also achieved in the analytical model through updating.The application of GAs as optimization techniques showed great versatility to optimize any number and type of variables in the model.

Effect of vehicle weight on natural frequencies of bridges measured from traffic-induced vibration

Recently,ambient vibration test(AVT)is widely used tu estimate dynamic characteristics of large civil struc- tures.Dynamic characteristics ean be affected by various envirnnmental factors such as humidity,intensity of wind,and temperature.Besides these environmental conditions,tire mass of vehicles may change the measured valnes when traffic-in- duced vibration is used as a source of AVT tor bridges.The effect of vehicle mass on dynamic characteristics is investigated through traffic-induced vibration tests on three bridges;(1)three-span suspension bridge(128m+404m+128m),(2) five-span continuous steel box girder bridge(59m+3@ 95m+59m),(3)simply supported plate girder bridge(46m). Acceleration histories of each measurement location under normal traffic are recorded for 30 minutes at field.These recor- ded histories are divided into individual vibrations and are combined into two groups aceording to the level of vibration;one by heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses and the other by light vehicles such as passenger cars.Separate processing of the two groups of signals shows that,for the middle and long-span bridges,the difference can be hardly detected,but,for the short span bridges whose mass is relatively small,the measured natural frequencies can change up to 5.4%.

Numerical and Experimental Study of Free Vibration Characteristics of a Cable-Stayed Bridge

The main aim of this study is to understand the dynamic behavior of a cable-stayed bridge, using both numerical and experimental analysis. A three-dimensional finite element model for the bridge was developed for the free vibration analysis and the ambient vibration properties of the bridge were determined through field testing. The experimental and numerical results of natural frequencies and the associated mode shapes were compared, and the high accuracy between them shows that the 3D model is capable of approximately representing the dynamic behavior of the bridge and the use of ambient vibration survives in future testing of the bridge. These dynamic characteristics can be used as the basis for updating the finite element model and also for global damage detection.

Operational modal identification of suspension bridge based on structural health monitoring system

An output-only modal identification method by a combination use of the peak-picking method and the cross spectrum methods are presented. Meanwhile, a novel mode shape optimum method of the deck is proposed. The methods are applied to the operational modal identification system of the Runyang Suspension Bridge, which can be used to obtain the modal parameters of the bridge from out-only data sets collected by its structural health monitoring system （SHMS）. As an example, the vibration response data of the deck, cable and tower recorded during typhoon Matsa excitation are used to illustrate the program application. Some of the modal frequencies observed from deck vibration responses are also found in the vibration responses of the cable and the tower. The results show that some modal shapes of the deck are strongly coupled with the cable and the tower. By comparing the identification results from the operational modal system with those from field measurements, a good agreement between them is achieved, but some modal frequencies identified from the operational modal identification system （OMIS）, such as L1 and L2, obviously decrease compared with those from the field measurements.

Structural health monitoring of long-span suspension bridges using wavelet packet analysis

During the service life of civil engineering structures such as long-span bridges, local damage at key positions may continually accumulate, and may finally result in their sudden failure. One core issue of global vibration-based health monitoring methods is to seek some damage indices that are sensitive to structural damage, This paper proposes an online structural health monitoring method for long-span suspension bridges using wavelet packet transform （WPT）. The WPT- based method is based on the energy variations of structural ambient vibration responses decomposed using wavelet packet analysis. The main feature of this method is that the proposed wavelet packet energy spectrum （WPES） has the ability to detect structural damage from ambient vibration tests of a long-span suspension bridge. As an example application, the WPES-based health monitoring system is used on the Runyang Suspension Bridge under daily environmental conditions. The analysis reveals that changes in environmental temperature have a long-term influence on the WPES, while the effect of traffic loadings on the measured WPES of the bridge presents instantaneous changes because of the nonstationary properties of the loadings. The condition indication indices VD reflect the influences of environmental temperature on the dynamic properties of the Runyang Suspension Bridge. The field tests demonstrate that the proposed WPES-based condition indication index VD is a good candidate index for health monitoring of long-span suspension bridges under ambient excitations.

Dynamic finite element model updating of prestressed concrete continuous box-girder bridge

The dynamic finite element model （FEM） of a prestressed concrete continuous box-girder bridge, called the Tongyang Canal Bridge, is built and updated based on the results of ambient vibration testing （AVT） using a real-coded accelerating genetic algorithm （RAGA）. The objective functions are defined based on natural frequency and modal assurance criterion （MAC） metrics to evaluate the updated FEM. Two objective functions are defined to fully account for the relative errors and standard deviations of the natural frequencies and MAC between the AVT results and the updated FEM predictions. The dynamically updated FEM of the bridge can better represent its structural dynamics and serve as a baseline in long-term health monitoring, condition assessment and damage identification over the service life of the bridge .

Field measurements for calibration of simplified models of the stiffening effect of infill masonry walls in high-rise RC framed and shear-wall buildings

As a type of nonstructural component, infill walls play a significant role in the seismic behavior of high-rise buildings. However, the stiffness of the infill wall is generally either ignored or considered by simplified empirical criteria that lead to a period shortening. The difference can be greatly decreased by using a structural identification methodology. In this study, an ambient vibration test was performed on four on-site reinforced concrete high-rise buildings, and the design results were compared with the PKPM models using corresponding finite element(FE) models. A diagonal strut model was used to simulate the behavior of the infill wall, and the identified modal parameters measured from the on-site test were employed to calibrate the parameters of the diagonal strut in the FE models. The SAP2000 models with calibrated elastic modulus were used to evaluate the seismic response in the elastic state. Based on the load-displacement relationship of the infill wall, nonlinear dynamic analysis models were built in PERFORM-3 D and calibrated using the measured modal periods. The analysis results revealed that the structural performance under small/large earthquake records were both strengthened by infill walls, and the contribution of infill walls should be considered for better accuracy in the design process.

System Identification of Heritage Structures Through AVT and OMA:A Review

In this review article,the past investigations carried out on heritage structures using Ambient Vibration Test(AVT)and Operational Modal Analysis(OMA)for system identification(determination of dynamic properties like frequency,mode shape and damping ratios)and associated applications are summarized.A total of 68 major research studies on heritage structures around the world that are available in literature are surveyed for this purpose.At first,field investigations carried out on heritage structures prior to conducting AVT are explained in detail.Next,specifications of accelerometers,location of accelerometers and optimization of accelerometer networks have been elaborated with respect to the geometry of the heritage structures.In addition to this,ambient vibration loads and data acquisition procedures are also discussed.Further,the state of art of performing OMA techniques for heritage structures is explained briefly.Furthermore,various applications of system identification for heritage structures are documented.Finally,conclusions are made towards errorless system identification of heritage structures through AVT and OMA.

Finite element model updating of a tied-arch bridge using Douglas-Reid method and Rosenbrock optimization algorithm

Condition assessment of bridges has become increasingly important. In order to accurately simulate the real bridge, finite element （FE） model updating method is often applied. This paper presents the calibration of the FE model of a reinforced concrete tied-arch bridge using Douglas-Reid method in combination with Rosenbrock optimization algorithm. Based on original drawings and topographic survey, a FE model of the investigated bridge is created. Eight global modes of vibration of the bridge are identified by ambient vibration tests and the frequency domain decomposition technique. Then, eight structural parameters are selected for FE model updating procedure through sensitivity analysis. Finally, the optimal structural parameters are identified using Rosenbrock optimization algorithm. Results show that although the identified parameters lead to a perfect agreement between approximate and measured natural frequencies, they may not be the optimal variables which minimize the differences between numerical and experimental modal data. However, a satisfied agreement between them is still presented. Hence, FE model updating based on Douglas-Reid method and Rosenbrock optimization algorithm could be used as an alternative to other complex updating procedures.