STRUCTURAL ELEMENT STIFFNESS IDENTIFICATION FROM STATIC TEST DATA

A finite element based method for static parameter identification of structures is presented for the systematic identification of plate-bending stiffness parameters for a one-third scale, reinforced-concrete pier-deck model. The plate-bending stiffnesses of the pier deck are identified at the element level by using static test data on a subset of the degrees of freedom used to define the finite element model. The finite element model of the reinforced-concrete pier deck is generated by using three-dimensional isoparametric elements to model the beams, and hourglass plate-bending elements to model the orthotropic slab. Several parameter identification examples are performed on the pier deck using simulated static force and displacement measurements. The level of acceptable error is investigated for the convergence of the algorithm. Probabilistic parameter identification is performed to simulate an actual test setup. It is believed that continued research of this approach of static parameter identification will lead to a practical procedure for damage assessment and load-carrying capacity determination of full-scale structures.