Online Identification System for Damage Location for Building Structures

Abstract

An algorithm for damage location is presented, directed to improve structural health monitoring methods based on wave propagation approach. In this article, damage is assumed as stiffness loss in the building that is directly reflected in changes presented by wave propagation velocities and damping coefficients. These changes are detected using an identification system, characterized by its low computational cost, and which, moreover, is robust to measurement noise and constant disturbances. Subsequently, a detection threshold is designed based on the changes between the identified structural parameters and those of reference. The experimental results of a five story reduce scale building confirm that the proposed method is promising for practical applications.