Title: Stochastic system identification and damage detection using firefly algorithm

Authors: Leandro Fleck Fadel Miguel; Letícia Fleck Fadel Miguel; João Kaminski Jr.

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, CEP 88040-970, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Sarmento Leite 425, 2º andar, CEP 90050-170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil ' Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Maria, DECC, Av. Roraima 1000, Centro de Tecnologia, 2º andar, CEP 97105 900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

Abstract: Smart methods of control and structural health monitoring (SHM) for large structures are highly needed, since it refers to the implementation of in situ non-destructive sensing and analysis of the dynamic system characteristics. The aim of this implementation is to detect changes, which may indicate damage or degradation. In addition, they have the potential feature to promote a more economical management and maintenance programme, since in certain structural applications a lack of access to the damaged area imposes an additional constraint on damage identification procedures. In this paper, a new approach for vibration-based (SHM) procedures is presented, in an ambient vibration context. This method combines a time domain modal identification technique (stochastic subspace identification - SSI) with the recently proposed evolutionary firefly algorithm (FA). A series of numerical examples with different damage scenarios and noise levels have been carried out under impact and ambient vibration. Additionally, an experimental study of three cantilever beams with several different damage scenarios is conducted and the proposed methodology has shown potential for use in the damage diagnosis assessment of the remaining structural life.

Keywords: structural health monitoring; SHM; stochastic subspace identification; SSI; firefly algorithm; ambient vibration; system identification; damage detection; large structures; time domain modal identification; cantilever beams; damage diagnosis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLCPE.2014.064104

International Journal of Lifecycle Performance Engineering, 2014 Vol.1 No.4, pp.357 - 379

Received: 31 Aug 2013
Accepted: 20 Mar 2014
Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

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