Abstract：A GA optimized least square estimation algorithm using an adaptive tracking technique was presented for structural damage identification. In the proposed approach, a genetic optimizing algorithm was adopted to optimize a variable adaptive factor matrix in which each adaptive factor is associated with the variation of a particular parameter, and the adaptive factor matrix can be determined based on current measured data.For illystrating advantages the presented method was applied to on-line identification of the changes of system parameters for linear and nonlinear hysteretic structures. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method is capable of tracking the time-varying system parameters and detecting the structural damages, including the damage location and severity. Besides, experimental study was presented to verify the capability of the proposed method by taking a small-scale 3-story building model as an example. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach is capable of tracking the variation of structural parameters, leading to the detection of structural damages.
2010, Vol. 29 
