Seismic health monitoring of high rise buildings in the city of Darwin, Australia

Details

Supervisors

Ryan Hoult ; Saraiva Esteves Pacheco De Almeida, João ; Maria Pina Limongelli

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil des constructions, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

Seismic Structure Health Monitoring has become increasingly vital for ensuring the safety of civil engineering structures under seismic actions worldwide. This thesis focuses on optimizing the placement of accelerometers in multi-storey buildings, specifically Australian structures. Building on existing methodologies, this research extends a 2D method for optimal sensor placement by incorporating a 3D model that accounts for torsional modes. Initially, the generalized method was tested on simple 3D frames, demonstrating that sensor layouts derived from torsional modes often resemble those obtained from flexural modes alone. The method was then applied to a typical Australian building model and a real-world case study of the Atwood Building in Anchorage. Despite variations in natural frequencies under different seismic conditions, the optimal sensor placement remained consistent across scenarios, confirming that conclusions drawn from ambient vibrations are valid even under stronger seismic events. The thesis concludes that torsional modes do not significantly alter the optimal sensor layout, allowing the use of the simpler 2D method in most cases. However, when torsional behaviour is critical, capturing the torsional response can be essential for assessing the structure's health. To support practical applications, a MATLAB tool was developed to assist in determining the optimal sensor placement based on structural characteristics, offering a valuable resource for building owners and authorities.