Modal Identification through Ambient Vibration: Comparative Study
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 135, Issue 8
Abstract
An analytical comparison between three techniques for the identification of modal properties of structures when subjected to ambient vibrations is performed. The algorithms examined include the eigensystem realization algorithm with data correlations, the prediction error method through least squares, and the stochastic subspace identification (SSI) technique. Both analytical and experimental data from a four-storey building scaled at 1:3 are used to perform these evaluations. The level of noise added to the simulated data is varied to study the robustness of the techniques. All techniques are fully automated, allowing for assessments to be conducted through Monte Carlo simulations. The results indicate that the SSI technique provides the most accurate identification of natural frequencies and mode shapes even with high noise levels, all while requiring the least amount of experience for implementation.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to acknowledge support in part from NSF Grant No. NSFCMS 02-45402.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 135 • Issue 8 • August 2009
Pages: 759 - 770
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 28, 2006
Accepted: Feb 9, 2009
Published online: Jul 15, 2009
Published in print: Aug 2009
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Erik A. Johnson
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