Systemic approach for the maintenance of complex structural systems

This paper deals with the general framework for the development and the maintenance of complex structural systems. In the first part, starting with a semantic analysis of the term 'structure', the traditional approach to structural problem solving has been reconsidered. Consequently, a systemic approach for the formulation of the different kinds of direct and inverse problems has been framed, particularly with regards to structural design and maintenance. The overall design phase is defined with the aid of the performance-based design (PBD) philosophy, emphasizing the concepts of dependability and enlightening the role of structural identification. The second part of the present work analyses structural health monitoring (SHM) in the systemic way previously introduced. Finally, the techniques related to the implementation of the monitoring process are introduced and a synoptic overview of methods and instruments for structural health monitoring is presented, with particular attention to the ones necessary for structural damage identification.