Abstract
In this paper, a non-destructive technique based on the monitoring of the environmental vibrations of two strategic buildings by positioning accelerometers in well-defined points was used for fixing their dynamic behavior. The accelerometers measurements were elaborated through Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) techniques, in order to identify natural frequencies, damping coefficients, and modal shapes of the structure. Once these parameters have been determined, a numerical model calibrated on the identified frequencies and verified on the corresponding mode shapes was created for each building. The structural operational efficiency index of the buildings was determined by using the Seismic Model Ambient Vibration (SMAV) methodology, which allows us to evaluate their seismic vulnerability. The results obtained from the experimental analysis (on three different tests for each analyzed building) concern the frequencies and the modal shapes of the structure. They have been compared to the results of the finite element model, with a very small error, indicating a good quality of the analysis and also the possibility of using directly well-tuned models for verifying the structural operating indices.
Highlights
We introduce a procedure that can be a helpful tool to trace the health condition of strategic buildings through Finite Element (FE) models validated by means of a nondestructive technique for the dynamic analysis
Seismic Model from Ambient Vibration (SMAV) methodology [26,36] has been applied to the Ambient Vibration (SMAV) methodology [26,36] has been applied to the structures analyzed and to structures analyzed and to their FE models
The methodology takes into account the decrease in natural frequencies, as deformation increases [37,38] through an iterative procedure based on three limit curves obtained from a probabilistic analysis, which expresses the decrease in natural frequencies in function of the maximum average drift
Summary
We introduce a procedure that can be a helpful tool to trace the health condition of strategic buildings through Finite Element (FE) models validated by means of a nondestructive technique for the dynamic analysis.In recent years, among nondestructive techniques used for performing structural building analyses and evaluating their operational status, Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) has become a useful technique for obtaining the effective state of safety and health of a structure.As with all the techniques, OMA is useful for modal parameter identification from output only analyses [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. We introduce a procedure that can be a helpful tool to trace the health condition of strategic buildings through Finite Element (FE) models validated by means of a nondestructive technique for the dynamic analysis. Among nondestructive techniques used for performing structural building analyses and evaluating their operational status, Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) has become a useful technique for obtaining the effective state of safety and health of a structure. The knowledge of the modal characteristics of structures, becomes essential for the model analysis and validation; it can guarantee the safety and practicability of the structure even in the case of unpredictable and high-energy stress events such as earthquakes.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
