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.

An improved interval model updating method via adaptive Kriging models

Interval model updating(IMU)methods have been widely used in uncertain model updating due to their low requirements for sample data.However,the surrogate model in IMU methods mostly adopts the one-time construction method.This makes the accuracy of the surrogate model highly dependent on the experience of users and affects the accuracy of IMU methods.Therefore,an improved IMU method via the adaptive Kriging models is proposed.This method transforms the objective function of the IMU problem into two deterministic global optimization problems about the upper bound and the interval diameter through universal grey numbers.These optimization problems are addressed through the adaptive Kriging models and the particle swarm optimization(PSO)method to quantify the uncertain parameters,and the IMU is accomplished.During the construction of these adaptive Kriging models,the sample space is gridded according to sensitivity information.Local sampling is then performed in key subspaces based on the maximum mean square error(MMSE)criterion.The interval division coefficient and random sampling coefficient are adaptively adjusted without human interference until the model meets accuracy requirements.The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by a numerical example of a three-degree-of-freedom mass-spring system and an experimental example of a butted cylindrical shell.The results show that the updated results of the interval model are in good agreement with the experimental results.

Model update mechanism for mean-shift tracking

In order to solve the model update problem in mean-shift based tracker, a novel mechanism is proposed. Kalman filter is employed to update object model by filtering object kernel-histogram using previous model and current candidate. A self-tuning method is used for adaptively adjust all the parameters of the filters under the analysis of the filtering residuals. In addition, hypothesis testing servers as the criterion for determining whether to accept filtering result. Therefore, the tracker has the ability to handle occlusion so as to avoid over-update. The experimental results show that our method can not only keep up with the object appearance and scale changes but also be robust to occlusion.

A Composite Approach of Radar Echo Extrapolation Based on TREC Vectors in Combination with Model-Predicted Winds

Extending the lead time of precipitation nowcasts is vital to improvements in heavy rainfall warning, flood mitigation, and water resource management. Because the TREC vector （tracking radar echo by correlation） represents only the instantaneous trend of precipitation echo motion, the approach using derived echo motion vectors to extrapolate radar reflectivity as a rainfall forecast is not satisfactory if the lead time is beyond 30 minutes. For longer lead times, the effect of ambient winds on echo movement should be considered. In this paper, an extrapolation algorithm that extends forecast lead times up to 3 hours was developed to blend TREC vectors with model-predicted winds. The TREC vectors were derived from radar reflectivity patterns in 3 km height CAPPI （constant altitude plan position indicator） mosaics through a cross-correlation technique. The background steering winds were provided by predictions of the rapid update assimilation model CHAF （cycle of hourly assimilation and forecast）. A similarity index was designed to determine the vertical level at which model winds were applied in the extrapolation process, which occurs via a comparison between model winds and radar vectors. Based on a summer rainfall case study, it is found that the new algorithm provides a better forecast.

DYNAMIC FINITE ELEMENT MODEL UPDATING BASED ON GLOBAL INFORMATION OF STRUCTURES

Finite element model updating method based on global information is proposed.Prior investigation upon design space of structural parameters is performed before updating usingstatistic analysis, including parameter screening using variance analysis and response surfacefitting using regression analysis. The parameter screening method selects the design parametersconsidering the result of hypothesis testing, which is a kind of global information. Meanwhile, thetraditional updating method considers local sensitivity which only gives the information at solepoint in the design space. Response surface fitting constructs a close-form multinomial whichdescribes the relationship between concerned structural feature and selected updating parameters. Itis an approximation to finite element models(FEM) and used as a substitution in the updatingiterations. The presented updating method can be applied without the restriction of linearassumption. In addition, there is no data exchange between the updating program and the finite-element analysis program in the updating iterations. This makes the method practical inengineering. An aircraft test structure, GARTEUR, is employed to verify the effectiveness of themethod. After updating, the error of modal frequencies is less than 3 percent.

Finite Element Model Updating of Bridge Structures Based on Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization Algorithm

The dynamic characteristics of bridge structures, such as the natural frequencies, mode shapes and model damping ratio, are the basis of structural dynamic computation, seismic analysis, vibration control and structural health condition monitoring. In this paper, a three-dimensional finite-element model is established for a highway bridge over a railway on No.312 National Highway and the ambient test is carried out in site, the dynamic characteristics of the bridge are studied using the finite-element analysis and ambient vibration measurements. Comparison between the theoretical and experimental results shows that the frequency differences of the modes range between 0.44% and 8.77%. If the measurement is more reliable, the finite element model updating is necessary. Thus, a set of design variables is selected based on sensitivity analysis, then the finite element model of the bridge is updated based on optimization algorithm. The results of model updating show that the proposed updating method in this paper is more simple and effective, the updated finite element model can reflect the dynamic characteristics of the bridge better, the analytical results can provide the theoretical basis for damage identification and health condition monitoring of the bridge.

An improved optimal elemental method for updating finite element models

The optimal matrix method and optimal elemental method used to update finite element models may not provide accurate results.This situation occurs when the test modal model is incomplete,as is often the case in practice.An improved optimal elemental method is presented that defines a new objective function,and as a byproduct,circumvents the need for mass normalized modal shapes,which are also not readily available in practice.To solve the group of nonlinear equations created by the improved optimal method,the Lagrange multiplier method and Matlab function fmincon are employed.To deal with actual complex structures, the float-encoding genetic algorithm(FGA)is introduced to enhance the capability of the improved method.Two examples,a 7- degree of freedom(DOF)mass-spring system and a 53-DOF planar frame,respectively,are updated using the improved method. The example results demonstrate the advantages of the improved method over existing optimal methods,and show that the genetic algorithm is an effective way to update the models used for actual complex structures.

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 .

Comparison of eigensensitivity and ANN based methods in model updating of an eight-story building

Analytical models prepared from field drawings do not generally provide results that match with experimental results.The error may be due to uncertainties in the property of materials,size of members and errors in the modelling process.It is important to improve analytical models using experimentally obtained data.For the past several years,data obtained from ambient vibration testing have been successfully used in many cases to update and match dynamic behaviors of analytical models with real structures.This paper presents a comparison between artificial neural network(ANN) and eigensensitivity based model updating of an existing multi-story building.A simple spring-mass analytical model,developed from the structural drawings of the building,is considered and the corresponding spring stiffness and lumped mass of all floors are chosen as updating parameters.The advantages and disadvantages of these updating methods are discussed.The advantage is that both methods ensure a physically meaningful model which canbe further employed in determining structural response and health monitoring.

Model updating of a bridge structure using vibration test data based on GMPSO and BPNN:case study

Model updating issues with high-dimensional and strong-nonlinear optimization processes are still unsolved by most optimization methods.In this study,a hybrid methodology that combines the Gaussian-white-noise-mutation particle swarm optimization(GMPSO),back-propagation neural network(BPNN)and Latin hypercube sampling(LHS)technique is proposed.In this approach,as a meta-heuristic algorithm with the least modification to the standard PSO,GMPSO simultaneously offers convenient programming and good performance in optimization.The BPNN with LHS establishes the meta-models for FEM to accelerate efficiency during the updating process.A case study of the model updating of an actual bridge with no distribution but bounded parameters was carried out using this methodology with two different objective functions.One considers only the frequencies of the main girder and the other considers both the frequencies and vertical displacements of typical points.The updating results show that the methodology is a sound approach to solve an actual complex bridge structure and offers good agreement in the frequencies and mode shapes of the updated model and test data.Based on the shape comparison of the main girder at the finished state with different objective functions,it is emphasized that both the dynamic and static responses should be taken into consideration during the model updating process.

Research on the iterative method for model updating based on the frequency response function

Model reduction technique is usually employed in model updating process. In this paper, a new model updat- ing method named as cross-model cross-frequency response function （CMCF） method is proposed and a new iterative method associating the model updating method with the mo- del reduction technique is investigated. The new model up- dating method utilizes the frequency response function to avoid the modal analysis process and it does not need to pair or scale the measured and the analytical frequency re- sponse function, which could greatly increase the number of the equations and the updating parameters. Based on the traditional iterative method, a correction term related to the errors resulting from the replacement of the reduction ma- trix of the experimental model with that of the finite element model is added in the new iterative method. Comparisons be- tween the traditional iterative method and the proposed itera- tive method are shown by model updating examples of solar panels, and both of these two iterative methods combine the CMCF method and the succession-level approximate reduc- tion technique. Results show the effectiveness of the CMCF method and the proposed iterative method .

EMMD-Prony approach for dynamic validation of simulation models

Model validation and updating is critical to model credibility growth. In order to assess model credibility quantitatively and locate model error precisely, a new dynamic validation method based on extremum field mean mode decomposition（EMMD） and the Prony method is proposed in this paper. Firstly, complex dynamic responses from models and real systems are processed into stationary components by EMMD. These components always have definite physical meanings which can be the evidence about rough model error location. Secondly, the Prony method is applied to identify the features of each EMMD component. Amplitude similarity, frequency similarity, damping similarity and phase similarity are defined to describe the similarity of dynamic responses.Then quantitative validation metrics are obtained based on the improved entropy weight and energy proportion. Precise model error location is realized based on the physical meanings of these features. The application of this method in aircraft controller design provides evidence about its feasibility and usability.

Beam Approximation for Dynamic Analysis of Launch Vehicles Modelled as Stiffened Cylindrical Shells

A beam approximation method for dynamic analysis of launch vehicles modelled as stiffened cylindrical shells is proposed.Firstly,an initial beam model of the stiffened cylindrical shell is established based on the cross-sectional area equivalence principle that represents the shell skin and its longitudinal ribs as a beam with annular cross-section,and the circumferential ribs as lumped masses at the nodes of the beam elements.Then,a fine finite element model(FE model)of the stiffened cylindrical shell is constructed and a modal analysis is carried out.Finally,the initial beam model is improved through model updating against the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the fine FE model of the shell.To facilitate the comparison between the mode shapes of the fine FE model of the stiffened shell and the equivalent beam model,a weighted nodal displacement coupling relationship is introduced.To prevent the design parameters used in model updating from converging to incorrect values,a pre-model updating procedure is added before the proper model updating.The results of two examples demonstrate that the beam approximation method presented in this paper can build equivalent beam models of stiffened cylindrical shells which can reflect the global longitudinal,lateral and torsional vibration characteristics very well in terms of the natural frequencies.

Damage Identification of General Overhead Travelling Crane Structure Based on Model Updating by Sensitivity

A model based damage identification was proposed by facilitating parameter sensitivity analysis and applied to a general overhead travelling crane.As updating reference data,experimental modal frequency was obtained by operational modal analysis(OMA)under ambient excitation.One dimensional damage function was defined to identify the damage by bending stiffness.The results showed that the model updating method could locate the damage and quantitatively describe the structure.The average error of eigenvalues between updated model analysis and the experimental results was less than 4% which proved the accuracy reliable.The comparison of finite element analysis and the test results of the deflection under the capacity load further verified the feasibility of this method.

Model Updating for High Speed Aircraft in Thermal Environment Using Adaptive Weighted-Sum Methods

Model updating for aircraft in a high temperature environment(HTE)is proposed based on the hierarchical method.With this method,the problem can be decomposed into temperature field updating and dynamic structural updating.In order to improve the estimation accuracy,the model updating problem is turned into a multi-objective optimization problem by constructing the objective function which combined with residues of modal frequency and effective modal mass.Then the metamodeling,support vector regression(SVR)is introduced to improve the optimization efficiency,and the solution can be determined by adaptive weighted-sum method(AWS).Finally,the proposed method is tested on a finite element(FE)model of a reentry vehicle model.The results show that the multi-objective model updating method in HTE can identify the input parameters of the temperature field and structure with good accuracy.

Performance Comparison of Two Meta-Model for the Application to Finite Element Model Updating of Structures

To investigate the application of meta-model for finite element( FE) model updating of structures,the performance of two popular meta-model,i. e.,Kriging model and response surface model( RSM),were compared in detail. Firstly,above two kinds of meta-model were introduced briefly. Secondly,some key issues of the application of meta-model to FE model updating of structures were proposed and discussed,and then some advices were presented in order to select a reasonable meta-model for the purpose of updating the FE model of structures. Finally,the procedure of FE model updating based on meta-model was implemented by updating the FE model of a truss bridge model with the measured modal parameters. The results showed that the Kriging model was more proper for FE model updating of complex structures.

Finite Element Model Updating for Structural Health Monitoring

This paper provides a model updating approach to detect,locate,and char-acterize damage in structural and mechanical systems by examining changes in mea-sured vibration responses.Research in vibration-based damage identification has been rapidly expanding over the last few decades.The basic idea behind this technology is that modal parameters(notably frequencies,mode shapes,and modal damping)are functions of the physical properties of the structure(mass,damping,and sifies).Therefore,changes in the physical properties will cause changes in the modal proper-ties which could be obtained by structural health monitoring(SHM).Updating is a process fraught with numerical difficulties.These arise from inaccuracy in the model and imprecision and lack of information in the measurements,mainly taken place in joints and critical points.The motivation for the development of this technology is.presented,methods are categorized according to various criteria such as the level of damage detection provided from vibration testing,natural frequency and mode shape readings are then obtained by using modal analysis techniques,which are used for updating structural parameters of the associated finite element model The experi-mental studies for the laboratory tested bridge model show that the proposed model.updating using ME scope technique can provide reasonable model updating results.

PRINCIPAL COMPONENT DECOMPOSITION BASED FINITE ELEMENT MODEL UPDATING FOR STRAIN-RATE-DEPENDENCE NONLINEAR DYNAMIC PROBLEMS

Thin wail component is utilized to absorb impact energy of a structure. However, the dynamic behavior of such thin-walled structure is highly non-linear with material, geometry and boundary non-linearity. A model updating and validation procedure is proposed to build accurate finite element model of a frame structure with a non-linear thin-walled component for dynamic analysis. Design of experiments （DOE） and principal component decomposition （PCD） approach are applied to extract dynamic feature from nonlinear impact response for correlation of impact test result and FE model of the non-linear structure. A strain-rate-dependent non-linear model updating method is then developed to build accurate FE model of the structure. Computer simulation and a real frame structure with a highly non-linear thin-walled component are employed to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Load transfer laws of tensile anchors in rock masses with weak interlayers based on a shear-slipping updating model

The load transfer characteristics of a tensile anchor in the rock mass with weak interlayers were investigated,considering the nonuniform stress of the horizontally layered rock mass along anchors.An improved shear-slipping model was proposed to describe the stress evolution characteristics of the bolt-rock interface.Based on the improved model,analytical solutions of the axial force,shear stress distribution and load-displacement relationship considering the residual stress stage were established.The effects of the stratigraphic sequence,pulling force and bolt diameter on the stress distribution of the anchorage interface were evaluated by using analytical solutions.The results were verified by applying the finite difference numerical simulation method.The sensitivity of each parameter to the axial force and shear stress of the rock bolt was determined based on calculation of the sensitivity coefficient.The study results show that the axial force and shear stress tend to decrease nonuniformly along the rock bolt towards the anchorage depth.Due to the existence of weak interlayers,the shear stress mutates at the weak and hard rock interface,and the axial force appears to“rebound”at the bottom of the anchored section.Lithology has more significant effects on the axial force and shear stress at the bottom of the anchor than at the top of the anchor.The pulling force is more sensitive to the anchor stress than stratigraphic sequence when the bolt diameter is determined.This study provides a theoretical framework for the fundamental problem of tensile bolts in horizontally or vertically laminated rock masses,providing a theoretical basis for anchor design.

Water level updating model for flow calculation of river networks

Complex water movement and insufficient observation stations are the unfavorable factors in improving the accuracy of flow calculation of river networks. A water level updating model for river networks was set up based on a three-step method at key nodes, and model correction values were collected from gauge stations. To improve the accuracy of water level and discharge forecasts for the entire network, the discrete coefficients of the Saint-Venant equations for river sections were regarded as the media carrying the correction values from observation locations to other cross-sections of the river network system. To examine the applicability, the updating model was applied to flow calculation of an ideal river network and the Chengtong section of the Yangtze River. Comparison of the forecast results with the observed data demonstrates that this updating model can improve the forecast accuracy in both ideal and real river networks.