Wavelet-Based Damage Detection in Reinforced Concrete Structures Subjected to Seismic Excitations

The feasibility of using output-only model-free wavelet-based techniques for damage detection in reinforced concrete structures subjected to seismic loads is explored through the analysis of the results of a full scale shake table test of a reinforced concrete bridge column recently performed at the NEES Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table. The evaluated approaches are based solely in the analysis of the acceleration time histories recorded in the structure. The viability of using numerical models to validate this type of damage detection methodologies is also evaluated. Wavelet analyses were capable of identifying the rebar fracture episodes and partially identified the frequency shifts in the structure as the inelastic demand increased. It was also found that, depending on the methodology employed, the use of numerical models to validate damage detection techniques can oversimplify the actual problem and/or induce spurious irregularities.