Bending moment distribution estimation of an actual steel building structure by microstrain measurement under small earthquakes

Abstract Most structural health monitoring systems estimate the overall behavior by measuring acceleration response, which cannot directly measure stress or damage state of individual members. An alternative approach is to use strain measurements; however, methods for analyzing and utilizing data actual steel buildings have not been established. In this study, highly precise semiconductor gauges were applied an building. The accelerations strains measured during earthquake loading used calculate ratio bending moment at beam column sections displacement top building, was defined as “local stiffness.” This physical index represents stiffness elements near measurement location can be easily predicted through simple static frame analysis. local comparable analytical values beams but larger than that columns. indicates nonstructural members may exhibit a certain degree restoring force strongly affected are considered design stage. Conversely, components. dominant frequency columns showed dependency on amplitude, opposite trends observed amplitude due other reasons such components changes in mass.