Smart Maintenance and Health Monitoring of Buildings and Infrastructure Using High-Resolution Laser Scanners

An integrated structural health monitoring system was proposed for the rapid assessment of damage on large structures such as high-rise buildings, industrial chimneys, long-span bridges, and similar facilities. The system used ground-based high-resolution IR (infrared) laser vibrometers to measure the dynamic response of structures. To utilize these devices as automated scanners in a fast and efficient way, a new targeting and control mechanism was developed. Different aspects of the proposed system, such as targeting precision and scanning efficiency, were discussed by presenting the results of laboratory experiments and outdoor vibration tests. In addition to the enhancements made in the measurement system, a new methodology was introduced to analyze the recorded vibration response. A novel data processing approach, based on a comparison of the mode shapes calculated on the healthy reference and damaged structures, made it possible to determine the location of the flaw. If available, a finite element model of the analyzed structure also enables the degree of the damage to be calculated very accurately. The reliability of the identification algorithm was demonstrated by conducting extensive numerical simulations and vibration tests on scale building models.

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