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Operational Modal Analysis of a Nine-Story Concrete Core Wall Building

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Abstract

This paper describes the experimental modal identification techniques used to identify the dynamic properties of a nine-story concrete core wall building located on the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver, Canada. Constructed in 1963, in a region of high seismic risk, the tower is slated for retrofit in the near future. In order to identify the dynamic properties of the structure, an ambient vibration test was performed using three instrument setups, synchronized via GPS, and positioned strategically throughout the building. Frequency domain decomposition and stochastic subspace identification methods were used to determine and validate the dynamic characteristics of the tower. The natural modes of vibration, frequencies, and damping ratios are presented. The results indicate that the structure exhibits rocking in the foundations as well as significant interaction with the adjacent structure.

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References

  1. Artemis Model Software (1999–2014) Structural vibration solutions, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.svibs.com/

  2. Micromed S.p.A. (2011a) Grilla Software. Retrieved from http://www.tromino.eu/prodsel.asp?cat=3

  3. Micromed S.p.A. (2011b) Tromino 10 channel triaxial sensors. Retrieved from http://www.tromino.eu/prodsel.asp?cat=1&prod=1

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Acknowledgements

The Authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Palle Anderson of Structural Vibration Solutions, Inc. for generously giving licensing for the Artemis Modal software. Also they would like to acknowledge André Harrmann from UBC Infrastructure Development and Project Services for his support and assistance in this project. Additionally, they would like to acknowledge Dr. Armin Bebamzadeh for his supervision and advice during testing.

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Correspondence to Adam Gerber .

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© 2015 The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc.

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McDonald, S., Gerber, A., Tobber, L., Ventura, C.E. (2015). Operational Modal Analysis of a Nine-Story Concrete Core Wall Building. In: Caicedo, J., Pakzad, S. (eds) Dynamics of Civil Structures, Volume 2. Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15248-6_41

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15248-6_41

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-15247-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-15248-6

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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