Output-only identification of the modal and physical properties of structures using free vibration response

The viability of a complete structural characterization of civil structures is explored and discussed. In particular, the identification of modal （i.e. natural frequencies, damping ratios and modal shapes） and physical properties （i.e. mass and stiffness） using only the structure＇s free decay response is studied. To accomplish this, modal analysis from flee vibration response only （MAFVRO） and mass modification （MM） methodologies are engaged along with Wavelet based techniques for optimal signal processing and modal reconstruction. The methodologies are evaluated using simulated and experimental data. The simulated data are extracted from a simple elastic model of a 5 story shear building and from a more realistic nonlinear model of a RC frame structure. The experimental data are gathered from shake table test of a 2-story scaled shear building. Guidelines for the reconstruction procedure from the data are proposed as the quality of the identified properties is shown to be governed by adequate selection of the frequency bands and optimal modal shape reconstruction. Moreover, in cases where the structure has undergone damage, the proposed identification scheme can also be applied for preliminary assessment of structural health.

Finite element model updating for structural damage detection using transmissibility data

This paper presents a new finite element model updating method for estimating structural parameters and detecting structural damage location and severity based on the structural responses(output-only data).The method uses the sensitivity relation of transmissibility data through a least-squares algorithm and appropriate normalization of the extracted equations.The proposed transmissibility-based sensitivity equation produces a more significant number of equations than the sensitivity equations based on the frequency response function(FRF),which can estimate the structural parameters with higher accuracy.The abilities of the proposed method are assessed by using numerical data of a two-story two-bay frame model and a plate structure model.In evaluating different damage cases,the number,location,and stiffness reduction of the damaged elements and the severity of the simulated damage have been accurately identified.The reliability and stability of the presented method against measurement and modeling errors are examined using error-contaminated data.The parameter estimation results prove the method’s capabilities as an accurate model updating algorithm.

Nonlinear system identification framework of folding fins with freeplay using backbone curves

Due to wear and manufacturing tolerance,the freeplay is unavoidable in the hinges of folding fins,which exerts significant effects on the aerodynamic characteristics.This paper proposes a backbone-curve-based framework for the dynamical identification of folding fins containing the freeplay nonlinearity.With no need to measure the input force signal and the response signals of nonlinear related Degrees of Freedom(DOFs),the proposed method is more direct and elegant than most existing nonlinear identification approaches,and it contains three steps:Firstly,the underlying linear model of the folding fin structure is obtained through the modal test on its linear sub-parts,and then,the harmonic approximation solves the analytical expressions of the backbone curves of measurable DOFs.Secondly,response data measured from the sine-sweep test are used to extract the fitting points of backbone curves for these DOFs.Finally,the curve fitting approach is applied to identify the freeplay parameters.A series of numerical experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.A real-life folding fin structure is also employed to illustrate how the method can be applied.These examples demonstrate that the identification framework can give an accurate dynamic model of the folding fin structure.