Vibration-based damage identification of an unreinforced masonry house model

Abstract

An unreinforced masonry house model was dynamically loaded using eccentric-mass shakers, with structural damage initiated by increasing the amplitude of the shaker load applied. At each damage state, a modal test was performed by impacting the house using a calibrated hammer. The structure’s dynamic properties were extracted by Stochastic Subspace Identification techniques. Finally, two vibration-based damage indicators were applied to detect and determine the spatial distribution of damage, i.e. modal frequency variation and modal assurance criteria. It was concluded that prior to identifying the damage distribution, it was necessary to determine how the modal frequencies were related to each wall. Based on that individual wall information, only a rough identification of damage distribution can be achieved.