Structural system identification from ambient and forced vibration testing

Abstract

For over two decades now the author and his team have accumulated wide-ranging experience in the dynamic testing of structural systems (such as flooring systems in buildings and stadia, pedestrian and road bridges and other structural forms such as gantry frames) for the purposes of their condition and performance assessment. Identification of the in-service state of a structure is important: • for determining its basic articulation and the nature of the conditions at its supports; • for determining its structural performance characteristics whilst in service; • as a precursor to performing an assessment of its load carrying capacity; • for gauging the effect of a retrofit that may have been introduced on it; • for performing general condition monitoring and assessment to gauge the effects of any degradation over a period of time or following a specific possibly damaging event, (eg an earthquake, storm or accidental load). This paper considers several examples of application of dynamic testing drawn from this experience to illustrate the utility of the approaches adopted concentrating on (but not restricted to) bridge engineering applications.