Bayesian operational modal analysis and assessment of a full-scale coupled structural system using the Bayes-Mode-ID method

This paper presents a structural assessment project for a construction training center in Hong Kong. The training center consists of coupled main and complementary buildings. Due to the vigorous activities in the training center, the objectives of the project include conducting operational modal analysis (OMA) of the buildings to assess their structural performance and the coupling of vibrations between the two buildings. OMA is conducted using Bayes-Mode-ID recently developed by the authors, which is an efficient Bayesian modal-component-sampling system identification method for field testing of civil engineering structures under ambient vibrations. Implementation issues for Bayes-Mode-ID are discussed in detail for the full-scale coupled structural system. Due to the large number of measurement points (high resolution mode shapes are desired for understanding the coupling behavior of the system) and limited number of sensors, the measurements were divided into 21 setups in order to properly characterize the dynamics of the building. Each setup covered one portion of the training center and the partial mode shapes from different setups were assembled to provide the global mode shapes. By following a Bayesian approach, not only the most probable values (MPVs) of the modal parameters (modal frequencies, modal damping ratios and mode shapes) but also their associated uncertainties can be obtained. The identified modal parameters reveal interesting dynamic behaviors of the coupled-building and they will be helpful for structural assessment and structural health monitoring (SHM) of the training center in the future.