Non-model vibration analysis method for health monitoring of structural joints

Structural health of joints plays an important role in the behavior of building structures. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) methods make it possible to investigate and keep under control the behavior of structural joints during the entire service life of buildings. Choice of SHM methods depends on the material of the joined structural members, its loading case, joint’s structure and stiffness. Since the beginning of the 21st century, many SHM methods have been developed to investigate the behavior of structures using vibration analysis. Vibration analysis methods can identify possible damages of structures or structural joints due to changes in frequency response, modal shape and damping. Methods based on vibration analysis are classified into two categories - methods using ready-made mathematical models and methods that do not employ models. Current paper discusses various vibration analysis methods for assessing a structural health of joints. Particular attention is paid to non-model based methods, as it avoid the need for complex mathematical representations of models for specific investigation objects. In the context of the development of vibration analysis methods for building structures, the authors propose the concept of a 3D coaxial acceleration correlations to study the joints behavior in three-dimensional space.