Distributed Detection of Local Damage in Large-Size Structures under Earthquake Excitation

Abstract eng:
Detection of local damage in large-size structures under earthquakes is an important but challenging task. In this paper, based on substructural approach, a technique for distributed detection of local damage in large-size linear structures subject to earthquake excitation is proposed. Interaction effect between adjacent substructures is considered by the interaction forces at substructural interfaces. The ‘unknown external inputs’ to the substructures concerned are estimated by an algorithm of recursive least squares estimation. The proposed technique not only simplifies the difficulties in the identification of complex structures by decreasing the numbers of unknown parameters in the identification process but also allows for local structural damage detection at critical parts where damage may occur. Moreover, it provides an efficient distributed computing strategy for structural damage detection which can be implemented by wireless smart sensor network based on the distributed computing capacity of smart sensors. A numerical example of detecting structural damage at element level in multi-story building is used to illustrate the proposed technique. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed technique is capable of detecting local damage with satisfactory accuracy and it is efficient for the detection of local damage in large-scale structures.

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