Vibration-based damage assessment basing on a data driven damage feature

In this paper the feasibility of a data-driven method, namely the Interpolation Damage Detection Method (IDDM), is investigated to estimate the magnitude of damage in a structure permanently monitored by a network of accelerometers. The IDDM had been previously successfully employed for damage localization purposes. The investigation is carried out on the numerically simulated responses obtained from the finite element model of a benchmark suspension bridge. The structural response to a seismic excitation is computed both in the undamaged and in several damaged configurations. Damage is simulated through a reduction of the elastic modulus of the material in selected structural elements. For each damage scenario several damage severities are modeled and the correlation between the damage feature and the severity of damage is investigated.