Journals Proceedings

Abstract

Structural damage assessment of framed structure utilizing a sensitivity based parameter identification method is presented in this paper. A subset of applied static forces and subset of measured strains are used to identify the elemental stiffness parameters of all or a portion of a finite element model of the structure. Here we developed a method for parameter estimation of linear elastic structures using static strain measurements, preserving structural connectivity and determines the changes in cross-sectional properties, including large changes or elemental failure for stable structures. To linearize the associated non linear problem a first order Taylor series expansion is used as an iterative scheme. The algorithm automatically adjusts the structural element stiffness parameters in order to improve the comparison between a measured and theoretical response in an optimal way. In this study we have artificially generated the required measured input. The identified cross-sectional element properties can be used for damage assessment of any structure. This procedure also identifies the selection of limited number of degrees of freedom required to perform successful parameter identification, as well as reduces the impact of measurement errors of the identified parameters. Two numerical examples, including two-dimensional (2D) and threedimensional (3D) frame structures are presented and the element stiffness are successfully and accurately evaluated, and to analyze any frame structure with this numeric process easily, a program is implemented in MATLAB programming according to the explained process, so that we can easily change the input data for analyzing different types of frame structures.