Application of model-based damage identification to a seismicallyloaded structure

Abstract

The aim of the presented model-based damage identificationapproach is to detect, localize and quantify changes in a mechanicalstructure due to damage by means of a computational model and measuredchanges of the structure's dynamic behavior. An inverse sensitivity problemis formulated, leading to a large number of damage parameters when thestructure has many structural members. While the number of potentialcandidates for the damage locations is very large, usually there are onlyvery few active parameters concentrating on the damaged areas. It turns outthat the parameter subset selection is an essential step. The method isapplied to a large scale structure, the so-called Steelquake structure, atwo-storey building, which was subjected to a seismic loading. Cracks atdifferent locations developed during this loading. All crack locations aresuccessfully identified by the algorithm, but one undamaged positionwas also localized. Additional simulation studies show that errors in themeasurement data can cause a false indication of damage.