Ricardo Taborda

Different alternatives of signal analysis using discrete wavelet transform for structural damage identification are studied. These alternatives are tested on the signals recorded in two instrumented buildings which suffered moderate and severe damage. It is shown that, although several of these alternatives seem to be useful on generally detecting the occurrence of damage, it is the high frequency band component of interstory drifts the one which leads to the clearest and more consistent results on identifying not only the occurrence of damage but its time, sequence, location and intensity. Even though two cases of study are not enough for making general conclusions, preliminary empirical limits that relate wavelet coefficients with the level of damage in the structures are proposed as a very promising and realistic idea of remote online structural damage monitoring.

Disclaimer:
This report draft was prepared by Ricardo Taborda in 2004 while working as a Research Assistant at the University of Southern California in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, under the advice of Profs. M.D. Trifunac and M.I. Todorvska. This document was never officially published as a USC-CE Report. Its publication through this Web site is done with the sole intention of preserving personal documents and providing background research information.