Mass and Stiffness Correlation Using a Transformation Matrix

Model correlation techniques are methods used to compare two different models, usually a numerical model and an experimental model. According to the structural dynamic modification theory, the experimental mode shapes estimated by modal analysis can be expressed as a linear combination of the numerical mode shapes through a transformation matrix T. In this paper, matrix T is proposed as a novel model correlation technique to detect discrepancies between the numerical and the experimental models in terms of mass. The discrepancies in stiffness can be identified by combining the numerical natural frequencies and the matrix T. This methodology can be applied to correlate the numerical and experimental results of civil (bridges, dams, towers, buildings, etc.), aerospace and mechanical structures and to detect damage when using structural health monitoring techniques. The technique was validated by numerical simulations on a lab-scaled two-span bridge considering different degradation scenarios and experimentally on a lab-scaled structure, which was correlated with two numerical models.

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