Operational Modal Analysis and Rational Finite-Element Model Selection for Ten High-Rise Buildings based on On-Site Ambient Vibration Measurements

Abstract

The frequencies and mode shapes of high-rise buildings obtained from on-site ambient vibration testing and operational modal analysis (OMA) are very important for dynamic structural analysis and seismic design. This paper introduces a high-rise building ambient vibration test project in Laibin. Some results obtained from full-scale measurements of the dynamic behavior of 10 high-rise buildings are described. Different pre- and postprocessing techniques were used for ambient vibration signal analysis, from which the modal parameters were obtained using three OMA techniques. By rationally analyzing and modeling the stiffness of the infill walls, six finite element (FE) models were built in PKPM and SAP2000 to estimate the analytical modal information. The influences of the infill wall mass and stiffness on the dynamic properties of a high-rise building are further discussed. According to the identified and calculated results, all three modes emerged in each modal dense region in the frequency domain of high-rise buildings. Finally, based on 25 proposed empirical equations, the fundamental periods of 10 buildings are calculated and summarized.