1,720,965 research outputs found

    Experimental Damage Identification in Masonry Structures by OMA

    No full text
    This paper presents a study carried out in different types of masonry structures to identify existing damage through dynamic identification techniques using operational modal analysis. A cross vault, a masonry wall and a simple clay brick construction have been analyzed. The three cases have been tested on a full scale in the laboratory. The cross vault has been subjected to a settlement of one of its supports, the damage has occurred and then it has been repaired by using Textile Reinforced Mortars (TRM). In the case of the wall and the simple construction, the damage has been generalized by means of horizontal loads simulating a seismic action by a cyclic incremental load, after the generation of the damage, it has been repaired using TRM. In all cases, a dynamic identification has been carried out prior to the generation of the damage, after the generation of the damage and later after its repair, finally after a new process of damage the structural health changes have been monitored. In the four phases, an identification of the dynamic characteristics of the structures has been carried out, both main frequencies and damping factor associated with each mode shape. Regarding operational modal analysis, the first vibration modes have been identified. Singular Value Plot have been obtained through the EFDD technique. In general terms, the results of the investigation showed that the effect of cracking generated by both horizontal cyclic loads and vertical displacements located in one of the supports generated a decrease in the vibration frequencies and an increase in the structural damping factors for the different vibration modes. On the other hand, in relation to the effect of the reinforcement techniques employed, the results showed the feasibility of recovering or even slightly increasing the stiffness of the original damaged structure. However, the results for the strengthened structures also showed that the intervention on the damaged structure tended to reduce the structural damping factors with respect to the unreinforced structure. In addition, it was also observed that after the tests the reinforced and newly damaged structures showed dynamic characteristics very similar to the unreinforced damaged structures

    Radar Interferometric Experimental Reconstruction of Three-Dimensional Displacement Vectors and Mode Shapes for Masonry Constructions

    No full text
    Radar interferometry is an innovative measurement technique capable of remotely measuring vibrations in terms of displacement history. It apparently allows overcoming some major drawbacks of the plodding and time-consuming conventional accelerometric experimental setup for vibration testing. Indeed, radar interferometry does not require any access to the structure; moreover, its use is simpler and faster. Therefore, this technique appears very appealing for ambient vibration testing on structures, and in particular on architectural heritage masonry constructions. However, radar interferometry is still affected by some relevant limitations, that currently outweigh the advantages. One of the most important limitations is that displacements are measured only along the line-of-sight; therefore, it is not possible to determine the whole three-dimensional displacement vector for moving structural points and, consequently, to reconstruct three-dimensional mode shapes of structures, whose knowledge is crucial for characterizing the dynamic behavior of structures and for detecting eventual damages. In this paper, a theoretical and experimental approach for reconstructing both three-dimensional displacement vectors and mode shapes of masonry constructions is proposed. This approach is based on the simultaneous use of two synchronized radar interferometers, and on the application of a theoretical model assuming a specific kinematical constraint, which is generally plausible in the case of masonry constructions. The proposed approach has been validated through in-situ experimental tests on a masonry bell towe

    In-situ estimation of axial force in tie rods of masonry structures by radar interferometry

    No full text
    Tie rods are often used in historical masonry constructions to improve structural stability. Tensile force in tie rods can be estimated from experimental measurements through dynamic methods. Generally, these methods are based on the measurement of the vibration of the tie rod through contact sensors. Here, we study the in-situ application of an innovative remote sensing technique, the ground-based radar interferometry, to the estimation of tensile force in tie rods through dynamic methods. Our purpose is to highlight the main potentials and limitations related to this application. We found that one of the most critical issues that may arise concerns the presence of static clutters. Indeed, static clutters may generate spurious frequencies that could lead to errors in the estimation of tensile force. Results show that this issue could be overcome by applying robust and effective clutter removal techniques

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

    Full text link
    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed

    Variations on the Author

    Full text link
    “Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship

    Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis

    Full text link
    We provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis

    Dynamic Identification of the Collapse Mechanisms of a Masonry Arch

    No full text
    The preservation, the safeguard and the valorization of the existing architectural heritage requires the development of theoretical and experimental approaches that can effectively identify any damage of the structures that could lead to their collapse. In the case of masonry constructions, the methodology becomes complex both due to the uncertainties deriving from the mechanical behavior of the masonry material, and due to the necessity to use contactless experimental approaches, which do not lead to the damage of the structure and can also be performed during the service life phase. In this article, we propose a damage identification method for masonry arches and vaults, based on the analysis of the dynamic tests results. In particular, our approach is able to identify the collapse mechanism of masonry curved structures in terms of position of hinges and depths of cracks. The case study consists of a clay-brick masonry arch subjected to an eccentric load on extrados. The experimental values of frequencies were used to calibrate a numerical model of the undamaged arch. A comparison between numerical and experimental frequencies values related to damaged and undamaged configuration was allowed to develop an effective approach to identify the collapse mechanism of arch
    corecore