A pseudo-modal structural damage index based on orthogonal empirical mode decomposition

A structural damage identification technique hinged on the combination of orthogonal empirical mode decomposition and modal analysis is proposed. The output-only technique is based on the comparison between pre- and post-damage free structural vibrations signals. The latter are either kinematic (displacements, velocities or accelerations) or deformation measures (strains or curvatures). The response data are decomposed by means of the orthogonal empirical mode decomposition to derive a finite set of orthogonal intrinsic mode functions; the latter are used as a multi-frequency and data-driven basis to build pseudo-modal shapes. A new damage index, the so-called pseudo-mode index, is introduced to compare the response obtained for the two states of the structural system and detect potential damages. The performance of the devised index in detecting a localised damage is shown through numerical and experimental tests on two structural models, namely a 4-degrees-of-freedom system and a two-hinged parabolic arch.