Ambient Vibration Research Articles

Bandgap characteristics of four component periodic pile barriers in passive vibration isolation

Based on the local resonance theory, the vibration isolation performance of four-component periodic pile barriers consisting of a matrix, an outer pipe, an inner pipe, and a pile core was investigated using the finite element method (FEM). This configuration is contrasted with traditional three-component periodic pile barriers, which are composed of a matrix, a pipe, and a pile core. The four-component systems demonstrate significantly broader bandgaps compared to three-component systems. To validate the efficiency of the FEM, model test on pile barriers were conducted, facilitating a comparison between the FEM and experimental observations of bandgap characteristics. Additionally, the effects of the outer pipe’s density, elastic modulus, and thickness on the complete bandgap characteristics were comprehensively studied within the four-component structure. It is found that the broadest vibration isolation band gaps occur under hexagonal arrangement pattern. In square and hexagonal lattice configurations, the density, elastic modulus, and thickness of the outer pipe pile’s pile have predominantly influenced the upper bound frequency (UBF). There has been a positive correlation between the elastic modulus and the UBF, while the density and thickness have shown inverse relationships. Moreover, there exists a elastic modulus threshold, marking a transition in the displacement mode of the UBF, from the outer irreducible Brillouin zone (M or X) to the inner zone (Γ). Once the threshold is exceeded, both the vibration displacement mode and the width of bandgap remain substantially unchanged. The results obtained in the present paper are very useful for the design and application of periodic pile barriers in ambient vibration reduction.

Estimation of Vs30 and site classification of Bhaktapur district, Nepal using microtremor array measurement

The severe damage observed in the Kathmandu Basin, Nepal, during past earthquakes necessitates a thorough study of the seismic behavior of the basin sediments. As the shear-wave velocity is directly related to the elastic shear modulus of the material, it is essential to determine it to incorporate the behavior of the soil in the design of the structure. Hence, we determined average shear-wave velocity in upper 30 m (Vs30) of soil in Bhaktapur district in the eastern part of the Kathmandu Basin at 73 observation points, employing two methods involving the use of non-invasive microtremor array measurements (MAMs). These MAMs are widely used for determining subsurface soil characteristics by analyzing the ambient vibrations of the ground. The first method involves inversion using a genetic algorithm, and the second is a method for obtaining Vs30 directly from the dispersion curve. We found that Vs30 in the southeastern part of the study area was higher than that in other parts. Conversely, Vs30 in the western region was lower. The calculated Vs30 values were used to classify the sites. The elevated eastern and southeastern areas with high Vs30 were categorized as dense soil or soft rock, whereas the areas with low Vs30 that had suffered significant damage during the 2015 Gorkha earthquake were classified as soft soil sites.Graphical

A nonlinear and asymmetric monostable compliant ortho-planar spring piezoelectric vibrational energy harvester using a H-I structure

This paper proposes a compliant ortho-planar spring piezoelectric vibrational energy harvester (COPS-PVEH) using a H-I structure that exploits a nonlinearity and an asymmetric mono-stability to enhance the bandwidth of the device. The main structure is based on a double clamped beam (I-structure) coupled with four cantilever beams (H-structure) and an ortho-planar spring in the centre of the I-structure. Finite element analysis (FEA), analytical modelling, and experimentation were performed to analyse the dynamical and electrical behaviour of the harvester. The device was fabricated using polylactide (PLA). Six bimorph PZT-5H piezoelectric materials, electrically connected in parallel, were used as piezoelectric generators. The device was tested using an optimum load resistor of 90 kΩ under sinusoidal and sine sweep excitation in the gravity (vertical) direction. The pre-load (due to gravitation) causes a softening nonlinearity and an asymmetric mono-stability in the potential energy function. The results show that multiple peaks are observed in the output voltage of the harvester in the FEA, analytical modelling, and experimentation under harmonic excitation in the sub 15 Hz frequency range. Furthermore, analytical modelling and experimentation exhibit softening nonlinearity and chaotic behaviour, reaching a maximum amplitude power of 1.01 mW (at 8.3 Hz) and 1.07 mW (at 9.5 Hz) respectively under sine sweep excitation (amplitude of 0.6 g (g = 9.81 m/s2)). Experimentally, the harvester also generates an average power greater than 46 µW with a 6.8 Hz bandwidth under the same excitation. The softening nonlinearity and asymmetric mono-stability enhance the bandwidth of the harvester in the low frequency region where most broadband ambient vibrations are available in practical environments.

Evaluation of Static Displacement Based on Ambient Vibration for Bridge Safety Management.

The evaluation of bridge safety is closely related to structural stiffness, with dynamic characteristics and displacement being key indicators. Displacement is a significant factor as it is a physical phenomenon that bridge users can directly perceive. However, accurately measuring displacement generally necessitates the installation of displacement meters within the bridge substructure and conducting load tests that require traffic closure, which can be cumbersome. This paper proposes a novel method that uses wireless accelerometers to measure ambient vibration data from bridges, extracts mode shapes and natural frequencies through the time domain decomposition (TDD) technique, and estimates static displacement under specific loads using the flexibility matrix. A field test on a 442.0 m cable-stayed bridge was conducted to verify the proposed method. The estimated displacement was compared with the actual displacement measured by a laser displacement sensor, resulting in an error rate of 3.58%. Additionally, an analysis of the accuracy of displacement estimation based on the number of measurement points indicated that securing at least seven measurement points keeps the error rate within 5%. This study could be effective for evaluating the safety of bridges in environments where load testing is difficult or for bridges that require periodic dynamic characteristics and displacement analysis due to repetitive vibrations, and it is expected to be applicable to various types of bridge structures.

Initial monitoring of a six-story lightweight timber frame building under different environmental conditions

AbstractThis study presents a comprehensive investigation of the dynamic behavior of a six-story lightweight timber frame building through periodic and continuous ambient vibration tests. Seasonal changes in temperature and relative humidity can influence the dynamic response of timber buildings, by affecting stiffness, strength, and connection properties due to changes in moisture content. Systematic tests were performed from October 2022 until May 2024 to identify natural frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes of the building using five battery-driven data acquisition units equipped with 15 uni-axial accelerometers. Two different only-output frequency and time domain Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) methods were used to evaluate the dynamic properties of the building. Additionally, the building has been continuously monitored with temperature and humidity sensors since its construction. Results obtained from the periodic measurements highlighted the need for a permanent system to capture the transient changes in the modal parameters. A complementary permanent system to record the accelerations at the roof level was installed in May 2024. The modal parameters from in situ measurements were compared with those obtained from the Finite Element (FE) model of the structure. The FE model, calibrated through a multi-stage approach, incorporating non-structural elements, and varying imposed loads, showed good agreement with experimental data. Comparative analysis of the results obtained under different temperature and humidity conditions showed the effect of the environmental conditions on the building dynamics properties, for both periodic and permanent measurements. This study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and detailed FE modeling in understanding the dynamic properties and long-term structural behavior under varying conditions. This information can be used to ensure that the building meets safety and performance requirements and to identify potential issues that may need to be addressed during the design and maintenance phases.

Aircraft icing detection via flow-induced ambient random noise: from theory to wind tunnel experiments

Aircraft icing is a serious threat to flight safety. This paper presents a passive approach to detect ice accreted on an airfoil using flow-induced random noise considering spatially-inhomogeneous transient excitations. Under the assumption of diffuse-field, by computing the cross-correlation of ambient vibration measured at two receivers and band-pass filtering it, the guided wave dispersion curve of the structure can be well-reconstructed, by which one can estimate the ice thickness by matching the reconstructed dispersion curve with its theoretical model. In practice, however, the diffuse-field assumption may not hold as spatially-inhomogeneous strong transient excitations exist. The associated directional wave propagation generates additional peaks in the cross-correlation and this contaminates the ice detection result. Therefore, this paper proposes a signal processing technique to identify and suppress the contributions from the transient source in the measurements, by which a reliable dispersion curve reconstruction and an accurate ice detection can be retrieved. The proposed method is shown to be efficient via a wind tunnel experiment. The passive ice detection method is specifically suitable for aircraft online monitoring because only passive sensors are needed which can be tiny, light, and mounted on the internal surface of fuselage skin without any influence on aircraft aerodynamics.

Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting for Civil Engineering Applications

This work embarks on an exploration of piezoelectric energy harvesting (PEH), seeking to unravel its potential and practicality. PEH has emerged as a promising technology in the field of civil engineering, offering a sustainable approach to generating energy from ambient mechanical vibrations. We will explore the applications and advancements of PEH within the realm of civil engineering, focusing on publications, especially from the years 2020 to 2024. The purpose of this study is to thoroughly examine the potential and practicality of PEH in civil engineering applications. It delves into the fundamental principles of energy conversion and explores its use in various areas, such as roadways, railways, bridges, buildings, ocean wave-based energy harvesting, structural health monitoring, and even extraterrestrial settings. Despite the potential benefits of PEH in these domains, there are significant challenges that need to be addressed. These challenges include inefficient energy conversion, limitations in scalability, concerns regarding durability, and issues with integration. This review article aims to address these existing challenges and the research gap in the piezoelectric field.

Performance enhancement of triboelectric nanogenerator by embedding tea-leaf powder in waste polystyrene

A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which harvests electrical energy from ambient mechanical vibrations, has emerged as a potential alternative to battery for future energy autonomous sensors and wireless devices. In this paper, we report a very simple and cost-effective strategy to improve the performance of a waste-material-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Tea-leaf powder is used as the filler in waste polysyrene (WPS), derived from the waste packaging material by using a very simple process. TENGs are fabricated using the composite layer comprising varying concentrations of the tea-leaf powder in WPS (Tea@WPS) as the tribopositive layer and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as the tribonegative layer. It is found that a low concentration of the tea leaf powder, such as 5%, produces the best performance with a peak voltage of ~1800 V, a surface charge density of ~180 μC/m2, and a power density of 61.25W/m2, which are approximately 4.5×, 2.8×, and 8× higher than that for a similar TENG in which no tea-leaf filler is used in WPS. Possible reasons for such huge performance enhancement are discussed. Although the performance of the device is degraded when exposed to high humidity level, it is found that the device restores it original performance when the humidity is reduced again. No degradation of performance of the device is observed for over 110 days in the same ambient condition.

Identification of Modal Properties of a Tall Glue-Laminated Timber Frame Building under Long-Term Ambient Vibrations and Forced Vibrations

Identification of Modal Properties of a Tall Glue-Laminated Timber Frame Building under Long-Term Ambient Vibrations and Forced Vibrations

System identification for structural condition assessment: Application to critical neoclassical monuments in Nepal

This paper presents structural condition assessment of some critical neoclassical monuments in Nepal using nonparametric and parametric system identification techniques. Neoclassical buildings in Nepal house critical administrative units. Structural condition assessment of such buildings is therefore important for the safety of their occupants and interrupted function during and after major earthquakes. The historical and cultural values of such monuments necessitate regular structural assessment for maintenance, repair, and preservation. Dynamic characteristics such as natural vibration frequencies of structures provide valuable insights on their structural condition. While numerical models are commonly used to estimate eigen frequencies of structures, they are associated with large uncertainties in massive monuments with complex structural and geometrical configurations. Noninvasive dynamic identification techniques provide an alternative means in such structures. Ambient vibration records from six neoclassical monuments in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal are used in this study to estimate vibration frequencies of the structures in different states. The structures were damaged during the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, and subsequently retrofitted. Changes in vibration frequencies before and after retrofitting provide useful insights on structural improvement through retrofitting. Input-output and output-only system identification techniques are tested to simplify the structural condition assessment approach. We conclude that the state space system identification can stably quantify dynamic properties so stiffness variation can be confidently extracted, which is the key application for noninvasive structural system identification. Also, using minimum number of sensors, we captured damage aggravation deploying the modal assurance criterion. The outcomes indicate that structural condition assessment of complex structures is possible using a limited number of sensors for circumstances such as damage aggravation to temporal variation (evolution/reduction) of dynamic characteristics.

Exploring the effective implementation of population-based SHM in existing buildings. Part I: Structural condition assessment

Despite major critical progress over the past few decades, condition-based decision-making concerning the immediate occupancy or efficient operation of an existing building continues to face unresolved issues. The key issue is to determine the structural condition and its residual capacity using data-driven-based methods without knowledge of its life cycle since design (ageing, extreme events, etc.). Environmental and operational variations, boundary conditions and a lack of damage-state building data lead to further uncertainties in the actual assessment of the structural capacity and affect the effectiveness of implementing structural health monitoring (SHM) solution. Recently, population-based SHM has been developed to address some of these issues to enable transfer from data collected from a group of nominally identical buildings, and to model missing data for the target building. This study presents the Build’Health™ framework for operational data-driven SHM, considering populations of buildings evaluated under operational conditions. Fifty-five period-height empirical models obtained from methods based on ambient vibrations recorded in nominally identical reinforced concrete buildings were first identified in the literature to define the building population models, along with design features (such as boundary conditions, geometry or material design). The shift in structural condition of the target building is inferred from the nominally identical building population, after adding empirical variability in the resonance period due to temperature, assumed herein to be the main environmental cause of structural variation. This work presents the framework implemented and its application to five target buildings under different monitoring and structural conditions. This manuscript is the first of a two-part article on population-based SHM relative to structural condition assessment (part I) and damage-feature classification (part II) presenting the Build’Health™ concept.

Investigation of the Natural Frequency Change of the Suspension Bridge Under Operating Conditions

This study addresses the challenge of accurately correlating the bridge natural frequency with influencing factors during ambient vibration by analysing on-site monitored data. This knowledge gap arises from the combined uncertainties of environmental factors and monitoring equipment noise. To tackle this challenge, the Fourier synchrosqueezed transform technique is employed and validated first by the simulated signal, as well as the Welch method. Then the instantaneous frequency of recorded acceleration at the real bridge is tracked, and a distinct diurnal pattern in the natural frequency is revealed. Then the two-stage strategy is adopted for the regression analysis. Firstly, the regression models between the normalised vibration intensity and the normalised frequency change of the vertical mode are established. Building upon these results, the additional factor, namely the effective wind speed, is considered in the second stage. The multiple linear regression model is established between the natural frequency change, the vibration intensity, and the effective wind speed. A thorough comparison of the results from both regression models reveals in-depth statistical insights. This study confirms that vibration intensity has a negative effect on the bridge natural frequency, i.e., higher vibration intensity leads to a decrease in natural frequency. Besides, the study also shows that while the effective wind speed has a statistically significant impact on the frequency change of the vertical modes, vibration intensity (caused by traffic loads) appears to be a more dominant factor.

Challenges in Ground-Penetrating Radar Application in Structural Elements: Determination of the Dielectric Constant of Glued Laminated Timber Case Study

In this paper, some of the basic information on Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR), its applications (especially in the field of civil engineering) and limitations are presented. As a non-destructive technique, GPR is a powerful tool for the investigation of structures and structural members, roads, geological layers, archaeological sites and many more. The technology is based on electromagnetic radiation in the UHF/VHF range (10 MHz to 3 GHz). The choice of the frequency depends on the intended use, depth and size of the target and medium where the target is located. Joined with other testing methods (ultrasound method, dynamic methods with forced or ambient vibrations, electrical conductivity testing, etc.), GPR can provide a deep insight into the investigated object. However, like many other non-destructive methods, the choice of input parameters may affect the results. In this regard, a case study presented in this paper demonstrates not only different applications of GPR in civil engineering but also the determination (calibration) of one of those input parameters: the dielectric constant of glued laminated timber. The challenge here was not only to investigate the influence of the direction of measurements with regards to the direction of the fibers but also to acknowledge the contribution of the test antenna used during testing and dielectric constant calibration.

Enhanced vibration energy harvesting from coupled pendulums through inertial amplifiers

Abstract Achieving higher power output across a broader frequency spectrum presents a significant challenge for vibration energy harvesters aimed at powering low-powered devices from ambient sources. This study introduces the novel concept of employing inertial amplifiers to couple mistuned pendulum electromagnetic harvesters for enhanced energy harvesting performance. A mathematical model elucidating the inertial amplifier mechanism is developed, and analytical results are compared against conventional uncoupled harvesters. Experimental studies demonstrated up to 1.8 times higher power output and a 2-fold increase in operational frequency bandwidth compared to uncoupled harvesters when employing inertial amplifier coupling. The proposed inertially coupled harvester design offers a powerful solution to significantly improve energy transduction levels and extend the viable frequency range, enabling efficient scavenging of ambient vibrations for powering wireless sensors and low-power electronics.

Dynamic Characteristics of a 1950s Heritage Building: A Comparison of Original Design Methods and Modern Techniques

Research on design rules and methods for architectural heritage is an important aspect of conservation practice. Nevertheless, efforts to recover and divulge design methods for Modern Heritage remain limited. This paper is related to the recent structural assessment of a 15-storey heritage building built in 1950, during which a document describing the original seismic analysis of this structure was identified. The methodology employed is of particular interest, as it involves the application of pioneer concepts of dynamic analysis in the design of the first tall buildings in Mexico. The primary aim of this paper is to review the seismic design criteria for the case under study in order to contribute to the state of the art in Modern Heritage. The review includes a comparison between the dynamic characteristics estimated during the design and the results of recent ambient vibration tests and numerical modeling. Several sources of error among the design criteria were identified. Notably, the fundamental period estimated during the design was 38% larger than the experimental value due to an underestimation in stiffness, which introduces significant uncertainty into the design. Overall, the review shows the evolution of seismic analysis over time and provide valuable insights for the study of similar buildings.

Energy management optimization of a gravitational energy harvester powering wireless sensor nodes for freight trains monitoring

Energy harvesting is a promising solution for the realization of self-powered wireless sensor nodes (WSNs), minimizing battery waste and environmental impact. The harvesting devices studied in this paper are gravitational vibration-based energy harvesters (GVEHs), converting the ultra-low-frequency ambient vibrations of structures or vehicles into electric power. The main efficiency losses are related to the AC/DC rectification and battery storage processes. Experimental tests confirm the optimized layout of negative voltage converter (NVC) using MOSFETs and a schottky diode with a 1000 μF smoothing capacitor, achieving power rectification efficiency of 65%. The rectified and smoothed power is stored in a Li-Ion 3.6 V 40 mAh coin cell and supplied to the load, consisting of a 3.3 V micro-controller unit, temperature sensor and sub-GHz wireless communication module. A nano power boost charger with buck converter manages power between the battery and the load. Experimental battery charge tests are performed for charging power evaluation at different external excitation amplitudes and frequencies. WSN average power consumption is analyzed with master–slave communication tests at different signal strengths and relative distances between the nodes. Finally, a duty cycle between active and sleep phase is defined to guarantee continuous activity of the WSN and net positive charge to the battery.

Environmental effects on the experimental modal parameters of masonry buildings: experiences from the Italian Seismic Observatory of Structures (OSS) network

AbstractThe paper presents an in-depth analysis of the ambient dynamic behavior of nine masonry buildings monitored by the Italian Seismic Observatory of Structures (OSS). Addressing a significant knowledge gap affecting this structural type, the study reveals how daily and seasonal fluctuations in environmental factors have a notable influence on its experimental modal parameters. A robust frequency-domain tracking algorithm is first developed to identify and follow the evolution of modal parameters over time, exploiting ambient vibration recordings acquired at sub-daily intervals on the structures. The procedure is systematically applied to the entire portfolio of case-study buildings and, in the first year of training, integrated with measurements of environmental parameters provided by nearby weather stations. The multivariate regression analysis indicates that temperature variation is the primary driver of the observed wandering of natural frequencies. The frequency–temperature relationship shows a positive correlation above zero degrees and, in several cases, a significant degree of nonlinearity already present in low-frequency global modes. Simple predictive models are proposed to address such nonlinear behavior, including freezing conditions and accounting for internal heating during winter. Leveraging these novel insights, the work develops strategies to improve the efficiency of data acquisition protocols and training periods, enabling the near-future extension of real-time condition assessment methodologies to the entire OSS network.

Surface wave mitigation by periodic wave barriers under a moving load: theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and experimental validation.

Periodic wave barriers (PWB) open a new window for vibration mitigation. However, the Doppler effect is rarely considered in most of the previous investigations on the control of ambient vibration induced by moving loads. This article reveals the significance of the speed and frequency of moving loads on surface waves, and improves the design method of PWB for ambient vibration reduction and isolation. First, the theoretical expression of the main frequency band of surface waves propagating in an elastic half-space caused by a moving load was obtained. Comparisons with the numerical results under three different types of traffic loads were also conducted and good agreement was found. Second, the theoretical expression and numerical results were verified by experimental studies. Some inherent properties of wave propagation caused by a moving load in an elastic half-space were also revealed. Third, two kinds of PWBs, i.e. periodic empty trench barrier and periodic pile barrier, were introduced to mitigate wave propagation. It has been confirmed that if the attenuation zones of PWB match the target frequency bands given by the theoretical expression, good vibration mitigation can be achieved. This article is part of the theme issue 'Current developments in elastic and acoustic metamaterials science (Part 1)'.

A computer vision–aided methodology for bridge flexibility identification from ambient vibrations

AbstractThis paper presents the implementation of a novel monitoring system in which video images and conventional sensor network data are simultaneously analyzed to identify the structural flexibility from the ambient vibrations. The magnitude ratio between the flexibility estimated from known/unknown input force are theoretically derived and decomposed into two parts: and . The first scale factor related to basic modal parameters can be acquired using the general modal identification methods. Aiming to tackle the difficulty in identifying the second scale factor related to the force intensity, a video stream of traffic is processed to detect and classify vehicles to determine the vehicle's location while displacement measurements are simultaneously collected. By integrating the toll station data, the vehicle loads are assigned to the vehicle on the bridge deck through the uniqueness of the license plate number. Thus, a structural input–output relationship is established to solve the second scale factor . Finally, the flexibility estimated from the ambient vibration are scaled by and , respectively to obtain the exact flexibility , which are same as the analytical ones . Both numerical example and a laboratory test are performed to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed methodology. The algorithms, approaches, and results given in the paper demonstrate its effectiveness and shows great potential for its application on a real‐life bridge's condition assessment.

Evaluate the Dynamic response of Buildings to Seismic Forces, Considering the Interaction between human Occupants and Structural vibrations

Damage to buildings and other structures may occur when dynamic loads, caused by earthquake vibrations, drive the ground and everything related to it to shake in a complicated way. Civil engineers are always thinking of new methods to deal with this inevitable problem. Humans put stress on a variety of buildings, including floors, footbridges, stadiums, and more. Modern material and manufacturing technology, together with human desire for aesthetics, have made it possible to build long span structures like bridges, stadiums, floors, etc. that are sleek, lightweight, and slim. To dampen a structure's dynamic reaction, engineers use devices called (TMDs), which consist of a mass and a spring, are tuned mass dampers. When it comes to managing the structural reactions to wind and harmonic excitations, Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) is the way to go. Specifically, the shear beam and 1D lumped-mass beams are the models under consideration. The main purpose of this piece is to demonstrate how methods that use records of ambient vibration may enhance and supplement seismic risk assessments of preexisting structures. To compare the structure's reaction with and without TMD, or tuned mass damper, is mounted on the building's exterior. Using a model calculated from outside vibrations and recorded within the structure, we were able to effectively compare the building's motion to a fake ground motion. It was also determined the inter-storey drift and the stiffness of each floor.