Feasibility of using self‐sensing component and response prediction model for rotation monitoring of shear wall structures

Abstract

Summary This study presents a designed framework of structural monitoring for coupled shear wall structures by integrating a theoretical response estimation model and a prototype micro‐voltage sensing module. Inspired by the deformation mode of coupled shear walls, a supplemental self‐sensing component is proposed for predicting the target flexural deformation. The self‐sensing component is designed to include permanent magnets and cross wires and installed parallel to the coupling beam. The relative velocity between the two attached walls is obtained using electromagnetic (EM) induction and measured micro‐voltages. Accordingly, the theoretical principle of the self‐sensing prediction model is then derived, and the calculation flowchart is presented. Illustratively, a detailed finite element model was performed in ABAQUS to investigate the feasibility and robustness of the proposed self‐sensing model under different excitation scenarios, and a parametric study is performed. Then, the nonstationary excitation is adopted to further investigate the performance of the self‐sensing model. Furthermore, an EM‐based sensing module for low‐level velocity measurement is developed and the prototype is tested by utilizing a shaking table test with satisfactory performance.