Structural reliability assessment based on optical monitoring system: case study

Abstract

Optical systems are recognized to be an important tool for structural health monitoring, especially for real time safety assessment, due to simplified system configuration and low cost when compared to regular systems, namely electrical systems. This work aims to present a case study on structural health monitoring focused on reliability assessment and applying data collected by a simplified optical sensing system. This way, an elevated reinforced concrete water reservoir was instrumented with a bi-axial optical accelerometer and monitored since January 2014. Taking into account acceleration data, the natural frequencies and relative displacements were estimated. The reliability analysis was performed based on generalized extreme values distribution (GEV) and the results were employed to build a forecast of the reliability of the water elevated reservoir for the next 100 years. The results showed that the optical system combined with GEV analysis, implemented in this experimental work, can provide adequate data for structural reliability assessment.

Dynamic characterization of a heritage construction from 19th century

“…However, for efficient maintenance or retrofitting measures adoption, it is necessary to implement the current state of knowledge on structural characteristics and behavior of heritage constructions, once these structures may present different constructive methods and complex structural properties, such different from structures designed nowadays. As highlighted by [2], exist a gap in the technical-scientific literature on structural characteristics of historical heritage and, considering the large interest on keep its structures in safety condition, as well considering its potential of contribution to regional tourism implementation, and also, by necessity to implement the current state-of-the-art in this field of engineering, it is evident that heritage constructions constitute topic of interest for scientific and technological development. Thus, studies essentially focused on non-destructive characterization of historical heritage have been recently developed by State University of Vale Do Acaraú, at Sobral, Brazil, with support by the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto and the University of Aveiro, in Portugal, in order of to contribute for field implementation, among some works can be seen in [3], [4], [5], [6].…”