Structural Damage Detection by NDT and Finding Axial Loads in Cables

Damage and condition identification of existing structures using non-destructive tests is a common challenge that has been worked on for a long time. In this book, two different methods were developed to find existing force on cables as well as determine bending characteristics (EI coefficients) of beam like structures (such as bridges). With the help of the proposed algorithm, the stiffness parameters of bridges can be assessed and the location of any damage that is in the magnitude which can affect displacement behavior of system can be located. The developed methods are demonstrated using the values analytically obtained from the created models and the effectiveness of the algorithm is criticized. Furthermore, several damage scenarios on a scaled lab beam was used to test the application using real experimental data; including tests on undamaged beam (for identification) and tests on the damaged beam. Additional experiments were conducted on a cable stretched in the laboratory instrumented using a load cell to measure instantaneous axial load on the cable and compare these values against the values obtained from the developed tension measurement device. The results are compared.