Sequential non-linear least-square estimation for damage identification of structures

An early detection of structural damage is an important goal of any structural health monitoring system. In particular, the ability to detect damages on-line, based on vibration data measured from sensors, will ensure the reliability and safety of the structures. In this connection, innovative data analysis techniques for the on-line damage detection of structures have received considerable attentions recently, although the problem is quite challenging. In this paper, we proposed a new data analysis method, referred to as the sequential non-linear least-square (SNLSE) approach, for the on-line identification of structural parameters. This new approach has significant advantages over the extended Kalman filter (EKF) approach in terms of the stability and convergence of the solution as well as the computational efforts involved. Further, an adaptive tracking technique recently proposed has been implemented in the proposed SNLSE to identify the time-varying system parameters of the structure. The accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed approach have been demonstrated using the Phase I ASCE structural health monitoring benchmark building, a non-linear elastic structure and non-linear hysteretic structures. Simulation results indicate that the proposed approach is capable of tracking on-line the changes of structural parameters leading to the identification of structural damages.