TY - JOUR A1 - Farhan, Muhammad A1 - Schneider, Ronald A1 - Thöns, Sebastian T1 - Predictive information and maintenance optimization based on decision theory: a case study considering a welded joint in an offshore wind turbine support structure N2 - Predictive information and maintenance optimization for deteriorating structures is concerned with scheduling (a) the collection of information by inspection and monitoring and (b) maintenance actions such as repair, replacement, and retrofitting based on updated predictions of the future condition of the structural system. In this article, we consider the problem of jointly identifying—at the beginning of the service life—the optimal inspection time and repair strategy for a generic welded joint in a generic offshore wind turbine structure subject to fatigue. The optimization is performed based on different types of decision analyses including value of information analyses to quantify the expected service life cost encompassing inspection, repair, and fatigue damage for all relevant combinations of inspection time, repair method, and repair time. Based on the analysis of the expected service life cost, the optimal inspection time, repair method, and repair time are identified. Possible repair methods for a welded joint in an offshore environment include welding and grinding, for which detailed models are formulated and utilized to update the joint’s fatigue performance. The decision analyses reveal that an inspection should be scheduled approximately at mid-service life of the welded joint. A repair should be performed in the same year after an indication and measurement of a fatigue crack given an optimal inspection scheduling. This article concludes with a discussion on the results obtained from the decision and value of information analyses. KW - Integrity management KW - Value of information KW - Decision theory KW - Structural reliability KW - Fracture mechanics KW - Fatigue KW - Predictive maintenance KW - Wind turbine support structure PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1177/1475921720981833 SN - 1475-9217 SN - 1741-3168 PB - Sage Publications CY - London AN - OPUS4-52771 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thöns, Sebastian A1 - Faber, M. H. A1 - Rücker, Werner T1 - Optimierung des Managements der Tragwerksintegrität für Offshore-Windenergieanlagen N2 - Dieser Artikel enthält aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse im Bereich des überwachungsgestützten Managements der Tragwerksintegrität. Das Management der Tragwerksintegrität hat zum Ziel, die Funktionalität eines Tragwerks während des gesamten Lebenszyklus durch Einhaltung der Zielzuverlässigkeiten sicherzustellen. Ausgehend von Forschungsergebnissen über die Charakteristik von Überwachungsverfahren und -daten im Rahmen von Zuverlässigkeitsanalysen, wird ein Ansatz vorgestellt, wie die erwarteten Kosten für das Management der Tragwerksintegrität durch Überwachungsverfahren optimiert werden können. Dazu wird eine Kosten-Nutzen-Analyse für den Lebenszyklus einer Gründungstruktur von Offshore-Windenergieanlagen durchgeführt. Im Rahmen der Bayes'schen Entscheidungstheorie werden durch eine Prä-posteriori-Entscheidungsanalyse die optimalen Entscheidungsparameter für den Entwurf eines Überwachungssystems bestimmt. Als Fallstudie wird ein Überwachungssystem für die Gründungsstruktur eines Multibrid-M5000-Prototyps konzipiert und die mögliche Reduktion der Risiken und erwarteten Betriebskosten quantifiziert. N2 - This paper contains recent research results in the field of monitoring supported structural integrity management. The structural integrity management aims at ensuring the functioning of a structure throughout the life cycle by compliance with the target reliabilities. Building upon research results concerning the characteristics of monitoring techniques and data within the framework of reliability analyses, an approach is introduced for the optimisation of the expected structural integrity management costs by monitoring information. For this aim, a life cycle cost benefit analysis for offshore wind turbine support structures is formulated. The optimal monitoring decision parameters are then assessed utilizing the Bayesian pre-posterior decision theory. As a case study a monitoring system for a Multibrid M5000 offshore wind turbine prototype support structure is designed and possible reductions of the risks and expected costs are quantified. KW - Management der Tragwerksintegrität KW - Messunsicherheit KW - Tragwerkszuverlässigkeit KW - Bayes'sche Aktualisierung KW - Kosten-Nutzen-Analyse KW - Lebenszyklus KW - Structural integrity management KW - Measurement uncertainty KW - Structural reliability KW - Bayesian updating KW - Cost-benefit analysis KW - Life cycle KW - Bauwerkserhaltung/Sanierung - Maintenance and Repair KW - Meerestechnik - Offshore engineering KW - Stahlbau - Steel construction PY - 2012 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/bate.201200021 SN - 0932-8351 SN - 1437-0999 SN - 0005-6820 SN - 0341-1052 SN - 0932-6359 VL - 89 IS - 8 SP - 525 EP - 532 PB - Ernst & Sohn CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-26313 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Faber, M.H. A1 - Thöns, Sebastian A1 - Narasimhan, H. A1 - Schubert, M. T1 - Risikobasierter Ansatz zur Bewertung der Robustheit von Bauwerken N2 - Ziel des vorliegenden Beitrages ist es, einen Überblick über die aktuellen Entwicklungen im Bereich der Bewertung und der Quantifizierung der Robustheit von Bauwerken zu geben. In diesem Sinne ist eine Zusammenstellung von Ansätzen und Ergebnissen aktueller Veröffentlichungen enthalten. Ein umfassender entscheidungstheoretischer Ansatz für die Berechnung und das Management der Robustheit wird vorgestellt. Dieser beinhaltet die Definition der Robustheit als eine Qualität eines Systems, welches das Bauwerk beinhaltet, d. h. eine Qualität, die auf der Grundlage einer Risikoanalyse bewertet werden kann. Um eine umfassende Risikoanalyse zu ermöglichen, wird ein szenarienbasierter Modellansatz eingeführt, welcher zwei Arten von Konsequenzen im System unterscheidet: direkte Konsequenzen (in Verbindung mit Schäden einzelner Komponenten des Systems) und indirekte Konsequenzen (in Verbindung mit einem Versagen des Systems). Die Definition des Systems spielt deshalb für die Risikoanalyse eine wichtige Rolle, und es wird diskutiert, wie die Robustheit für verschiedene Definitionen zu unterschiedlichen Ergebnissen und Erkenntnissen im Sinne des Managements der Integrität des Bauwerks im gesamten Lebenszyklus unter Berücksichtigung seiner Funktionalität führt. Weiterhin werden wichtige Aspekte der Standardisierung der Robustheitsanalyse, wie auch Anforderungen an die Robustheit, diskutiert und Vorschläge zum Umgang mit diesen Aspekten unterbreitet. Auf der Grundlage der vorgestellten Ansätze zur Berechnung der Robustheit eines Bauwerks wird beschrieben, wie Entscheidungen in Bezug auf den Entwurf, die Zustandsbewertung, auf Inspektionen und Wartung sowie in Bezug auf die Überwachung von Bauwerken, in Hinblick auf das Management der Risiken in allen Phasen des Lebenszyklus, optimiert werden können. KW - Qualität KW - Risikoanalyse KW - Modellansatz KW - Konsequenz KW - Direkt KW - Indirekt KW - Versagen KW - Schaden KW - Lebenszyklus KW - Hängebrücke KW - Quality KW - Risk assessment KW - Model approach KW - Consequence KW - Direct KW - Indirect KW - Failure KW - Damage KW - Life-cycle KW - Suspension bridge KW - Entwurf und Konstruktion KW - Berechnungs- und Bemessungsverfahren KW - Bestandssicherung und Erhaltung PY - 2010 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/stab.201001354 SN - 0038-9145 SN - 1437-1049 SN - 0932-6375 VL - 79 IS - 8 SP - 547 EP - 555 PB - Ernst CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-21862 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rohrmann, Rolf A1 - Thöns, Sebastian A1 - Rücker, Werner T1 - Integrated monitoring of offshore wind turbines - requirements, concepts and experiences N2 - Wind turbines on offshore sites (OWECs) are subjected to combined loads from wind and waves. These dynamic loads, with a frequency content within the range of the natural frequencies of the structures, cause fatigue-effective stresses in the substructures of wind turbines. Therefore, the examination of natural frequencies is an important part within the design process of wind turbines. The quality of the numerical models for such calculations is of great importance, since the certification guidelines permit only small uncertainties in modal analysis results. The accuracy of the parameters of the numerical model can only be achieved through a comparison of simulation results with corresponding test results. Therefore, it is necessary to measure the dynamic behaviour of all components of the wind turbines simultaneously. This is true not only for the design verification, but also for monitoring the OWECs in operation. The potential of integrated systems for monitoring-based maintenance optimisation should thus be used. KW - Offshore wind turbines KW - Integrated monitoring system KW - Structural assessment KW - Damage indicators KW - Dynamic loads KW - Data management PY - 2010 DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/15732470903068706 SN - 1573-2479 SN - 1744-8980 VL - 6 IS - 5 SP - 575 EP - 591 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - London AN - OPUS4-21452 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thöns, Sebastian A1 - Stewart, M. G. T1 - On the cost-efficiency, significance and effectiveness of terrorism risk reduction strategies for buildings N2 - We analyse the performance of risk reduction strategies for Terrorist attacks with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) for large governmental building structures in terms of cost-efficiency, significance and effectiveness Accounting for life safety in conjunction with societal preferences and capabilities. The approach builds upon an extended Bayesian pre-posterior decision analysis and the principles of the marginal lifesaving costs based on the Life Quality Index (LQI). The decision scenario is formulated for a decision maker responsible for the safety of governmental or large commercial buildings and consequently the direct risks, the indirect risks due to fatalities and economical importance of the building beside the expected cost for the individual risk reduction strategies are modelled, aggregated and optimised. The considered risk reduction strategies encompass an explicit consideration and distinction of information and actions such as (i) threat surveillance may trigger the temporary evacuation of the building, (ii) the implementation of protection provisions provided by codes and guidelines, (iii) a detailed progressive collapse assessment and specific protection measures and (iv) the combination of protection and surveillance. All considered strategies are found to contribute to risk reduction and can be costefficient, especially for higher threat probabilities. The risk reduction strategies comply with societal macroeconomic and demographical characteristics and societal preferences according to the LQI. The progressive collapse assessment with targeted protection measures is found to be the most cost-efficient, significant and effective counter-terrorism strategy. This finding points to the necessity for a comprehensive utilisation of scientific methods and sophisticated engineering for progressive collapse assessment to determine targeted protection measures. KW - Significance and effectiveness KW - Risk mitigation strategies KW - Terrorist attacks KW - Value of information KW - Bayesian probability KW - Reliability KW - Risk and decision analysis KW - Decision optimality PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strusafe.2020.101957 VL - 85 SP - 10195 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-50794 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thöns, Sebastian A1 - Rohrmann, Rolf A1 - Rücker, Werner A1 - Faber, M.H. T1 - Bewertung der Ermüdungsfestigkeit von Baustrukturen in Offshore-Windenergie-Anlagen N2 - Das Bauwerk einer Windenergieanlage dient der Sicherstellung der Energieproduktion. Eine entsprechende Zuverlässigkeit der Struktur und deren permanente Bewertung und Unterhaltung ist dazu notwendig. In diesem Beitrag werden Möglichkeiten der Bewertung des für die Struktur wichtigen Schädigungsmechanismus Ermüdung sowie dessen Überwachung in Zusammenhang mit Schädigungsindikatoren aufgezeigt. Dabei wird auf strukturmechanische, werkstoffmechanische und probabilistische Modelle sowie auf Messdaten eines Prototyps einer OWEA zurückgegriffen. Ausgehend von der gesamtdynamischen Berechnung wird die Zuverlässigkeit gemäß der Auslegung für den Schädigungsmechanismus Ermüdung durch ein Wöhlerlinienmodell berechnet. Damit werden ermüdungssensible Komponenten der Struktur identifiziert. Schädigungsindikatoren zur Überwachung der Ermüdungsfestigkeit werden auf Grundlage schädigungs-äquivalenter Dehnungen vorgestellt. Fatigue assessment of support structures for offshore wind energy converters. The structure of wind energy converters secures a reliable energy production. Hence an adequate reliability of the structure and additionally permanent assessment and maintenance is required. Within this paper methods for the assessment of the important damage mechanism fatigue in combination with monitoring of the fatigue reliability utilizing damage indicators are proposed. These methods comprise structural system, material degradation and probabilistic models as well as monitoring data of an offshore wind energy converter prototype. The structural reliability of the structure as designed is calculated based on an overall dynamic analysis using a SN-approach. Herewith fatigue sensitive components are identified. Damage indicators for monitoring the fatigue reliability based on damage equivalent strains are presented. KW - Bewertung KW - Offshore-Windenergie KW - Ermüdung KW - Strukturspannungskonzept KW - Zuverlässigkeit KW - Schadensindikatoren KW - Integrated Monitoring System KW - Damage Identification KW - Load Monitoring KW - Wind turbines PY - 2008 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/stab.200810076 SN - 0038-9145 SN - 1437-1049 SN - 0932-6375 VL - 77 IS - 9 SP - 630 EP - 638 PB - Ernst CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-17977 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thöns, Sebastian A1 - Schneider, Ronald T1 - The Influence of brittle Daniels system characteristics on the value of load monitoring information N2 - This paper addresses the influence of deteriorating brittle Daniels system characteristics on the value of structural health monitoring (SHM). The value of SHM is quantified as the difference between the life cycle benefits with and without SHM. A value of SHM analysis is performed within the framework of the Bayesian pre-posterior decision theory and requires (1) structural performance modelling and prediction, (2) structural integrity management models, (3) the (pre-posterior) modelling of SHM and (4) the coupling of SHM and the structural performance models. The pre-posterior decision theoretical framework facilitates that the value of SHM can be quantified before the SHM system is quantified and before data are acquired. The results of this study support decisions to select structural systems for which the SHM strategy load monitoring is optimal. T2 - 8th European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring (EWSHM 2016) CY - Bilbao, Spain DA - 05.07.2016 KW - Value of information KW - Structural performance KW - Deterioration KW - Daniels systems PY - 2016 UR - http://www.ndt.net/?id=20186 SN - 1435-4934 VL - 21 IS - 8 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - NDT.net CY - Kirchwald AN - OPUS4-38217 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hu, Wei-Hua A1 - Thöns, Sebastian A1 - Rohrmann, Rolf A1 - Said, Samir A1 - Rücker, Werner T1 - Vibration-based structural health monitoring of a wind turbine system. Part II: Environmental/operational effects on dynamic properties N2 - The second part of these companion papers mainly researches environmental/operational influences on structural dynamic properties under normal operational conditions during two years, in order to extract a statistical based damage-sensitive indicator for health monitoring of a wind turbine system. The correlation analyses between experimental identified frequencies, damping values as well as mode shapes and environmental/operational factors such as rotation speed of blades, wind speed, pitch angle, temperature and nacelle direction are presented. It is observed that the frequency estimates are influenced by the nacelle position, the activation of rotor, the rotation speed of blades and the wind speed as well as the temperature. Regarding to the damping estimates, they are mainly associated with variation of the aerodynamic damping due to the increasing wind speed. Besides, the resonance phenomenon is also observed in higher modes. The harmonic frequencies due to blades passing by tower are found and the corresponding damping value decreases. Moreover, the mode shapes in some modes are strongly affected by the position of the nacelle. Subsequently, two types of simulated damage including the reduction of stiffness in both the rotor blade and the tubular tower are successfully detected by applying the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based methods to these temperature-sensitive frequency estimates. Comparison of change of the extracted health features indicates that they are more sensitive with the tower damage. KW - Vibration KW - Structural health monitoring KW - Wind turbine KW - Environmental/operational effects KW - Modal properties KW - Principal Component Analysis KW - Novelty analysis KW - Damage detection KW - Sommerfeld effect KW - Automated operational modal analysis KW - Resonance PY - 2015 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2014.12.035 SN - 0141-0296 VL - 89 SP - 273 EP - 290 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Oxford AN - OPUS4-32879 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hu, Wei-Hua A1 - Thöns, Sebastian A1 - Rohrmann, Rolf A1 - Said, Samir A1 - Rücker, Werner T1 - Vibration-based structural health monitoring of a wind turbine system. Part I: Resonance phenomenon N2 - This paper is focused on a resonance phenomenon of a wind turbine system in 5 MW class, on the basis of dynamic signals acquired continuously from the tubular tower under normal operational conditions during two years. Firstly, technique specifications of the wind turbine system are introduced and a finite element model is developed to characterize the structural dynamic properties. The following part describes the continuous dynamic monitoring system integrated with an automated operational modal analysis procedure using the poly-reference Least Squares Complex Frequency domain (p-LSCF) method. Subsequently, variations and mutual relationships of environmental/operational factors such as vibration amplitude, temperature, wind speed, rotation speed of blades, pitch angle and nacelle direction are also presented. Finally, significant resonance is observed due to the fundamental frequency of the tower matching with the harmonic frequency induced by the rotation of three blades. As the rotation speed of rotor approaches to 8 rpm, the vibration amplitude of the tower increases significantly and the corresponding damping value decreases. With the further rising wind velocity, the rotation speed of blades stops increasing and the input energy just contribute to accumulate the vibration amplitude of tower. Such observation indicates the Sommerfeld effect that aggravates the resonance phenomenon. A vibration control device is necessary to minimize the excessive structural responses. A companion paper will further discuss the environmental/operational effects on dynamic properties of the wind turbine system under the operational conditions. KW - Vibration KW - Structural health monitoring KW - Wind turbine KW - Automated operational modal analysis KW - Resonance KW - Sommerfeld effect PY - 2015 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2014.12.034 SN - 0141-0296 VL - 89 SP - 260 EP - 272 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Oxford AN - OPUS4-32878 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thöns, Sebastian T1 - On the Value of Monitoring Information for the Structural Integrity and Risk Management N2 - This article introduces an approach and framework for the quantification of the value of structural health monitoring (SHM) in the context of the structural risk and integrity management for systems. The quantification of the value of SHM builds upon the Bayesian decision and utility theory, which facilitates the assessment of the value of information associated with SHM. The principal approach for the quantification of the value of SHM is formulated by modeling the fundamental decision of performing SHM or not in conjunction with their expected utilities. The expected utilities are calculated accounting for the probabilistic performance of a system in conjunction with the associated structural integrity and risk management actions throughout the life cycle, the associated benefits, structural risks, and costs and when performing SHM, the SHM information, their probabilistic outcomes, and costs. The calculation of the expected utilities necessitates a comprehensive and rigorous modeling, which is introduced close to the original formulations and for which analysis characteristics and simplifications are described and derived. The framework provides the basis for the optimization of the structural risk and integrity management based on utility gains including or excluding SHM and inspection information. Studies of fatigue deteriorating structural Systems and their characteristics (1) provide decision Support for the performance of SHM, (2) explicate the influence of the structural component and system characteristics on the value of SHM, and (3) demonstrate how an integral optimization of SHM and inspection strategies for an efficient structural risk and integrity management can be performed. KW - Monitoring KW - Structural Integrity and Risk Management KW - SHM PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/mice.12332 VL - 33 IS - 1 SP - 79 EP - 94 PB - John Wiley & Sons, Inc. CY - Hoboken, NJ, USA AN - OPUS4-44537 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -