POD methodologies for SHM application in civil engineering

Abstract

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) technologies can significantly enhance safety through continuous monitoring. The successful deployment of real-time SHM systems rely mainly on reliability evaluations. While numerous standards exist for reliability assessments or Probability of Detection (POD) of NDT techniques, there are no specific standards guiding reliability procedures for SHM data. Consequently, NDT POD methods are often applied to SHM data, despite the time and statistically dependent nature of SHM data. Especially in the field of civil engineering, there is the need for a SHM specific POD approach able to perform a meaningful reliability evaluation. Hence, in the current work, different SHM POD models including random intercept model and length at detection (LaD) model are implemented for a vibration-based monitoring data relevant for civil engineering. Unlike the linear response observed in NDT inspection data concerning damage, SHM data can exhibit non-linear characteristics in certain cases. In those cases, an advanced LaD model suitable for non-linear data is also developed in the current study. In addition, a comparison between the results obtained using NDT POD models and SHM POD models is demonstrated using an open-source GUI (TU1402) based on FE model. Moreover, the results obtained by the application of modified LaD POD model to a real test bridge data is demonstrated. Keywords: SHM, reliability, POD, civil engineering.