Some topics of Structural Health Monitoring: FEM model updating and Limit Analysis of large-scale structures  Seminar

Abstract

Structural identification and health monitoring constitute a continuously evolving research field that increasingly attracts the interest of researchers, engineers and property owners around the world. Among other reasons, this may be attributed to the challenging and crucial issue of assessing the current conditions and residual lifetime of a structure, in particular from a cost-effective maintenance point of view. 

Along that line, the combination of in-situ testing and computer modeling represents a crucial means for structural assessment. Such a combination relies on the so-called model updating, also referred to as model calibration. This process typically includes the following sequence: to acquire – to model – to update the model. It consists of a complex procedure in which a reconciling process between experimental evidence and model response is sought.

Limit Analysis (LA) concerns the determination of the safety factors with respect to the ultimate limit state of a structure and associated collapse mechanism kinematics. Such an information looks suitable for comparative evaluations among different design options, which may correspond to different health conditions of a targeted structure or to feasible structural choices to be selected for its renovation.  In this presentation, specific recent formulations and applications concerning both FEM model updating and LA of large-scale civil structures are presented and discussed. In particular, a complete model updating approach is presented for a historic reinforced concrete bridge with parabolic arches, and the true potentials of LA in the structural analysis of another monumental iron arch bridge are revealed. The presentation highlights that the two disciplines may be joined in a coupled approach toward Structural Health Monitoring purposes for such type of structures or others.