Spectral analysis of sensor data in civil engineering structure

A system identification procedure is developed for processing structural re sponse signals registered by sensors permanently installed for monitoring a t critical locations of a structure. The procedure, which is based on spect rogram estimation and is applied within a sweeping window of signal samples , was built into a data processing software that allows the determination o f the fundamental frequencies of vibrating structural members and can be us ed to identify the changing properties of instrumented structural systems t hrough time. Field data obtained from strain sensors on a specialized bridg e deck structural system that spans the Salmon River in Nova Scotia, Canada were used as case study for evaluating the performance of the proposed met hod, Successful correlation was obtained between theoretical and observed v ibration characteristics, whereas several important features of the actual function of Various bridge members were revealed through the analysis proce dure. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.