Health monitoring of RCC building model experimentally and its analytical validation

Abstract

Purpose

The need for structural health monitoring systems is continuously growing to maintain existing civil infrastructure. For the purpose of assuring seismic safety, it is necessary to monitor the damage for its occurrence, its location and the extent of damage. Information on the damage may be utilized to make decisions on maintenance and structural safety of existing buildings, rapid evaluation of condition of damaged structure after future earthquakes, estimation of residual life of structures, feasibility of repair and retrofitting of structures, partial replacement or demolition of structure and financial planning for renovation and rehabilitation. The purpose of this paper is to present a four‐level scheme of damage detection.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first stage of the four‐level scheme, finite element model has been developed and dynamic parameters are calculated. In the second stage, change in the dynamic properties of farmed reinforced concrete building model is identified from vibration measurements under different level of controlled damage. In the third stage, search for the damaged stories containing the damaged components is carried out of the damaged model by making use of the change in modal properties. Finally, the extent of damage is evaluated by using its frequency response function (FRF).

Findings

The magnitude of FRF decreases with the increase in the level of damage in the RCC building model. The damage index for different levels of damage as calculated from the FRF magnitude indicates that damage index increases with increase in damage. The magnitude of FRF varies with the level of damage in the storey.

Research limitations/implications

Three storey RCC building model without infill wall have been considered. Damage has been induced in the building model by applying static horizontal load at the roof level.

Originality/value

The paper contains only unpublished Information derived from other publications is strictly referenced. Therefore, most of the concepts and experiences presented are new.

Citation

Singh Kanwar, V., Kwatra, N., Aggarwal, P. and Gambir, M.L. (2008), "Health monitoring of RCC building model experimentally and its analytical validation", Engineering Computations, Vol. 25 No. 7, pp. 677-693. https://doi.org/10.1108/02644400810899960