This paper deals with the system identification of a mechanical structure supported by nonlinear springs subjected to an external load. If all mechanical parameters of the system were known, the displacement of the system subjected to this load could be easily calculated. However, the monitoring applications often deal with the inverse problem. The loads and displacements of the system are known and certain mechanical Parameters of the system are sought. The solution of such inverse problems can be difficult, especially when they have a nonlinear and multimodal character, which often makes them appear intractable at first sight. However, evolutionary computing can be applied to solve this inverse, nonlinear and multimodal problem. Sometimes a prior knowledge exists on certain system properties, which is difficult to implement into analytical or numerical solvers. This knowledge can play a decisive role in identifying the System properties and it can be easily included as a boundary condition when applying evolutionary algorithms.
This article discusses how and under what conditions the unknown spring resistances can be identified. The practical application of this procedure is exemplified here with the mechanical system of a pile foundation.
In diesem Artikel wird ein 3D FE-Modell für den Brückenübergangsbereich vorgestellt, das eine Bewertung hinsichtlich des Langzeitverhaltens ermöglicht und an dem Optimierungsmaßnahmen diskutiert werden können. Bestandteile des numerischen Modells sind das Fahrzeug-Fahrwegmodell mit Brückenstruktur und eine Randformulierung mit der SBFEM. Die hier diskutierten Optimierungsmaßnahmen fokussieren sich auf eine reine Anpassung der Fahrwegsteifigkeit durch elastische Elemente auf der Brückenstruktur.
This paper presents the continuous dynamic measurements of an aging prestressed box-beam bridge during the period from 2000 to 2013, which consists of dynamic properties and environmental/operational factors, as well as the Variation of the extracted health features after removing the environmental/operational effects. Firstly, the variations of frequency estimates, temperatures and traffic loads from 2000 to 2013 are described. Subsequently, correlation analysis between them indicates the nonlinear influences of the temperature on the frequency estimates. The Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) method is used to remove the environmental/operational effects and the health index is proposed by performing the Novelty Detection analysis of the residual errors. Finally, the variations of the health index may indicate clear structural modifications that can be also characterized by the long term monitoring of the dynamic strain in the prestressed cable.
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.
Vibration-based structural health monitoring of a wind turbine system. Part I: Resonance phenomenon
(2015)
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.
The ground vibrations, which are generated by trains on different tracks, have been calculated by finite-element boundary-element models. The ballasted track is modelled in detail by the finite element method. The infinite soil is modelled by the boundary element method as a homogeneous or layered half-space. The track-soil system is coupled to a simple rigid mass model of the vehicle so that the vehicle-track interaction is completely included. Transfer functions are calculated in frequency domain without and with vehicle-track interaction, the compliance of the track and the mobilities of the soil at different distances from the track. Finally, the ratios between the ground vibration amplitudes with and without mitigation measures are calculated to quantify the effectiveness of the mitigation measures.
Tracks with under-sleeper pads have been investigated in a wide parameter study for the RIVAS project. The main parameters that influence the reduction of ground vibration are the stiffness of the under-sleeper pad, the mass and the width of the sleeper. The softest sleeper pad yields the best reduction of the ground vibration. The influence of the sleeper mass is not so strong, as the characteristic frequency is ruled by the mass of the sleeper and the mass of the wheelset as well.