Structural Identification and Health Monitoring

Abstract

This course will present methods for assessing the condition of structures based on monitoring. The term "monitoring" corresponds to measurements of structural response (e.g. strains, deflections, accelerations), which are nowadays available from low-cost and easily deployed sensor technologies. We show how to exploit sensing technology for maintaining a safe and resilient infrastructure.

Objective

This course aims at providing a graduate level introduction into the identification and condition assessment of structural systems. Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to: 1. Test Structural Systems for assessing their condition, as this is expressed through stiffness 2. Analyse sensor signals for identifying characteristic structural properties, such as frequencies, mode shapes and damping, based on noisy or incomplete measurements of the structural response. 3. Establish relationships governing structural response (e.g. dynamics equations) 4. Identify possible damage into the structure by picking up statistical changes in the structural "signature" (behavior)

Content

The course will include theory and algorithms for system identification, programming assignments, as well as laboratory and field testing, thereby offering a well-rounded overview of the ways in which we may extract response data from structures. The topics to be covered are : 1. Fundamentals of dynamic analysis (vibrations) 2. Fundamentals of signal processing 3. Modal Testing for determining the modal properties of Structural Systems 4. Parametric & Nonparametric Identification for processing test and measurement data i) in the frequency domain (Spectral Analysis, Frequency Domain decomposition) ii) in the time domain (Autoregressive models, the Kalman Filter) 5. Damage Detection via Stochastic Methods A comprehensive series of computer/lab exercises and in-class demonstrations will take place, providing a "hands-on" feel for the course topics. Grading: The final grade will be obtained, either - by 30% from the graded exercises and 70% from the written session examination, or - by the written session examination exclusively. The highest ranking of the above two options will be used, so that assignments are only used to strengthen the grade.

Resources