Comparative Study of Structural Anomaly Diagnosis Based on ANN Model Using Random Displacement and Acceleration Responses with Incomplete Measurements

Structural anomaly diagnosis, such as damage identification, is a continuously interesting issue. Artificial neural networks have an excellent ability to model complex structure dynamics. In this paper, an artificial neural network model is used to describe the relationship between structural responses and anomalies such as stiffness reduction due to damages. Random acceleration and displacement responses as generally measured data are used as the input to the artificial neural network, and the output of the artificial neural network is the anomaly severity. The artificial neural network model is set up by training and then validated using random vibration responses with different structural anomalies. The structural anomaly diagnosis method based on the artificial neural network model using random acceleration and displacement responses is applied to a five-story building structure under random base excitations (seismic loading). Anomalies in the structure are denoted by stiffness reduction. Structural anomaly diagnosis using random acceleration responses is compared with that using random displacement responses. The numerical results show the effects of different random vibration responses used on the accuracy of predicting stiffness reduction. The actual incomplete measurements include intensive noise, finite sampling time length, and limited measurement points. The effects of the incomplete measurements on the accuracy of predicting results are also discussed.