Structural Identification for Condition Assessment: Experimental Arts

Structural identification is a powerful concept that permits rational characterizations of constructed facilities and their loading environments. Potential uses of structural identification to solve numerous problems related to condition assessment of civil infrastructure are proposed. Definitions and terminology related to the concept are formulated. The experimental, analytical, and information tools that are needed for a successful structural identification of a constructed facility are discussed. Experimental techniques that permit effective structural identification applications to highway bridges have been validated and demonstrated on an operating steel-stringer highway bridge serving as a test bed. Experiences gained during the applications of different forms of modal analysis and instrumented monitoring are presented with example experimental data and results. Hardware, software, and design requirements for field experiments are discussed.