Virtual sensing for real-time strain field estimation and its verification on a laboratory-scale jacket structure under water waves

•We propose a virtual sensing procedure for real-time strain field estimation.•Strain field is estimated with high accuracy using several strain gauges attached to the structure.•The effectiveness of the proposed procedure is assessed through experimental tests under water waves. This study aims to achieve real-time estimation of the full-field strain distribution in a structure by signals measured from several strain gauges attached to the structure. Our virtual sensing procedure is developed based on finite element formulation and employs the mode superposition approach. To verify the feasibility of the proposed procedure, numerical and experimental tests are conducted on a laboratory-scale offshore jacket structure subjected to water waves. Key aspects addressed in this study include the selection of displacement modes and the division of strain signals. The experiments are performed in an ocean basin, and comprehensive explanations are provided for the jacket prototype design, implementations, experimental setup, and wave loading conditions. The performance of the proposed virtual sensing procedure is thoroughly assessed through various evaluation measures, enhancing the understanding of its capabilities and limitations in practical applications.