A method for non-parametric damage detection through the use of neural networks

A neural network‐based approach is presented for the detection of changes in the characteristics of structure‐unknown systems. The approach relies on the use of vibration measurements from a ‘healthy’ system to train a neural network for identification purposes. Subsequently, the trained network is fed comparable vibration measurements from the same structure under different episodes of response in order to monitor the health of the structure. The methodology is applied to actual data obtained from ambient vibration measurements on a steel building structure that was damaged under strong seismic motion during the Hyogo‐Ken Nanbu Earthquake of 17 January 1995. The measurements were done before and after repairs to the damaged frame were made. A neural network is trained with data after the repairs, which represents ‘healthy’ condition of the building. The trained network, which is subsequently fed data before the repairs, successfully identified the difference between the damaged storey and the undamaged storey. Through this study, it is shown that the proposed approach has the potential of being a practical tool for a damage detection methodology applied to smart civil structures. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.