SHM method for damage localization based on substructuring and VARX models

TL;DR

This paper introduces a damage localization method using substructuring and VARX models that detects and locates damage in structures based solely on displacement data without prior structural knowledge.

Contribution

It presents a novel damage detection approach combining substructuring with VARX models, enabling damage localization without needing a pre-existing structural model.

Findings

Effective damage detection and localization demonstrated in simulations

Requires only displacement measurements, no prior structural model needed

Applicable to complex structures like an eight-storey shear building

Abstract

A novel damage localization method is proposed, which is based on a substructuring approach and makes use of Vector Auto-Regressive with eXogenous input (VARX) models. The substructuring approach aims to divide the monitored structure into several multi-DOF isolated substructures. Later, each individual substructure is modeled by a VARX model, and the health of each substructure is determined analyzing the variation of the VARX model. The method allows to detect whether the isolated substructure is damaged, and besides allows to locate the damage within the substructure. Only measured displacement data is required to estimate the isolated substructure's VARX model. Moreover, it is not necessary to have a priori knowledge of the structural model. The proposed method is validated by simulations of an eight-storey shear building.