A Procedure for Post-Earthquake Damage Estimation Based on Detection of High-Frequency Transients

In the current research structural health
monitoring is considered for addressing the critical issue of
post-earthquake damage detection. A non-standard approach
for damage detection via acoustic emission is presented -
acoustic emissions are monitored in the low frequency range
(up to 120 Hz). Such emissions are termed high-frequency
transients. Further a damage indicator defined as the
Time-Ratio Damage Indicator is introduced. The indicator
relies on time-instance measurements of damage initiation and
deformation peaks. Based on the time-instance measurements
a procedure for estimation of the maximum drift ratio is
proposed. Monitoring data is used from a shaking-table test
of a full-scale reinforced concrete bridge pier. Damage of the
experimental column is successfully detected and the proposed
damage indicator is calculated.

Authors:

• Aleksandar Zhelyazkov
• Daniele Zonta
• Helmut Wenzel
• Peter Furtner

Keywords:

• Acoustic emission
• Damage detection
• Shaking table test
• Structural health monitoring
• High-frequency transients.

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