Work

Damage level assessment using DAD method and model updating

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Aging infrastructure, particularly bridges, requires reliable methods for assessing structural integrity. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) provides a proactive approach to damage detection and maintenance, but traditional methods often lack the capability to assess the severity of detected damage. This paper introduces an enhancement to the Deformation Area Difference (DAD) method, specifically designed to enable Level 3 SHM for damage severity assessment. Traditionally, the DAD method focuses on detecting and localizing damage by analyzing the deflection of structures under static loads, but it does not provide a means for quantifying damage severity. To address this limitation, a model updating (MU) technique is integrated into the DAD method, allowing for accurate assessment of the severity of localized damage. The method involves deriving curvature differences from the deflection data and applying an inversion-based MU algorithm to quantify the extent of structural damage. The research includes numerical simulations and experimental investigations, showcasing the potential of the enhanced approach for real-world applications. The results highlight the ability of the enhanced DAD method to provide reliable damage level assessments while maintaining computational efficiency. These findings suggest that the enhanced method can significantly improve SHM practices, particularly in assessing structural integrity and guiding maintenance decisions in real-world applications.

Source: Engineering Structures

DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120498

Authors: Tarik Čamo, Danièle Waldmann

Institutions: University of Luxembourg, Technische Universität Darmstadt

Language: English

Topic: Structural Health Monitoring Techniques

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,620