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Bayesian Filtering In Nonlinear Structural Systems With Application To Structural Health Monitoring, Kalil Erazo

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

During strong earthquakes structural systems exhibit nonlinear behavior due to low-cycle fatigue, cracking, yielding and/or fracture of constituent elements. After a seismic event it is essential to assess the state of damage of structures and determine if they can safely resist aftershocks or future strong motions. The current practice in post-earthquake damage assessment relies mainly on visual inspections and local testing. These approaches are limited to the ability of inspectors to reach all potentially damaged locations, and are typically intended to detect damage near the outer surfaces of the structure leaving the possibility of hidden undetected damage. Some structures in …