System-Identification Procedure for System and Input Parameters in Ambient
Vibration Surveys
Nicholas P. Jones, Tinghui Shi, and Robert H. Scanlan, Department of Civil
Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218-2686, USA
J. Hugh Ellis, Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, and
Department of Civil Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
21218-2686, USA
Abstract:
Over the past several decades, much valuable data pertaining to the structural
performance of large civil structures (e.g., bridges) have been obtained
through the use of ambient vibration surveys. While there have been
significant advances in the technology used to collect the data, processing
techniques used in such situations are still unable to reliably extract
"difficult" parameters such as damping. This paper presents an overview of a
method based on the application ofa Kalman filter for the identification of
system and excitation characteristics. Numerical examples of the method are
presented.