Special Mechanical and Civil Engineering Seminar

Life-cycle performance evaluation is the basis of the life-cycle management of a civil structure. Structural health monitoring (SHM) is an in-situ test technique used to evaluate the life-cycle performance of a civil structure. Unlike small-scale laboratory tests, SHM can provide comprehensive insight into the real spatial behaviors and performance of real full-scale civil structures under real actions on a real-time scale throughout the operational life. The large amount of civil infrastructure construction provides an opportunity to develop the SHM technique in mainland China. A number of sophisticated SHM systems have been implemented in civil structures in mainland China. Novel scientific research has been conducted based on monitoring data. The framework of life-cycle performance-based monitoring and evaluation are first figured out. And then two representative SHM systems for full-scale bridges are introduced. Three examples for life-cycle performance monitoring and evaluation are presented, they are that (i) "The SHM for monitoring and evaluating wind, wind loads, wind flow and wind effects for long-span bridges", (ii) the seismic damage localization and assessment approaches of structures based on SHM technique and (iii) Monitoring and identification of cable tension and then further assessment of fatigue damage coupled with corrosion. The design code, software and Benchmark problem are given. Finally, the challenges and future directions in the SHM field are discussed.