Sensor Placement Optimization for Damage Detection

The damage identification technique for bridge structure by vibration mode analysis is based on the precision of modal experiment. The number of the sensors and their settled locations determine the accuracy of test results. So how to distribute sensors reasonably to get the appropriate information about the changes of structure state of the bridge is the key for the health monitoring to large span bridges. Take Wenhui cable-stayed Bridge as an example and the modal date calculated by the finite element model, we adopt EI (Effective Independence) method, MAC (Modal Assurance Criterion) method and an eigenvector sensitivity based method to optimize the placement procedure of the sensors in this paper. The study begins with a detailed finite element modeling of Wenhui Bridge. Then four criteria, such as modal assurance criterion, mode energy criterion, condition number criterion and fisher information criterion, are evaluated the above three methods. The corresponding modal data at deferent locations defined by these three approaches are employed to identify the damages based on the FE model. Finally the proper locations for sensor placement are suggested for damage detection.