Structural health monitoring and bridge condition assessment

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2016This research is mainly in the field of structural identification and model calibration, optimal sensor placement, and structural health monitoring application for large-scale structures. The ultimate goal of this study is to identify the structure behavior and evaluate the health condition by using structural health monitoring system. To achieve this goal, this research firstly established two fiber optic structural health monitoring systems for a two-span truss bridge and a five-span steel girder bridge. Secondly, this research examined the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method’s application by using the portable accelerometer system for a long steel girder bridge, and identified the accelerometer number requirements for comprehensively record bridge modal frequencies and damping. Thirdly, it developed a multi-direction model updating method which can update the bridge model by using static and dynamic measurement. Finally, this research studied the optimal static strain sensor placement and established a new method for model parameter identification and damage detection.Chapter 1: Introduction -- Chapter 2: Structural Health Monitoring of the Klehini River Bridge -- Chapter 3: Ambient Loading and Modal Parameters for the Chulitna River Bridge -- Chapter 4: Multi-direction Bridge Model Updating using Static and Dynamic Measurement -- Chapter 5: Optimal Static Strain Sensor Placement for Bridge Model Parameter Identification by using Numerical Optimization Method -- Chapter 6: Conclusions and Future Work

RMB Exchange Rate and Local Currency Price Stability : The Case of China and ASEAN+3

This paper uses Chinese and ASEAN+3 industry panel data to measure variations in mark-up adjustment behaviour that is associated with the exchange rate changes across export destination markets. Exports that are substitutes for local products exhibit a high degree of mark-up adjustment, which has the effect of stabilising prices in export destination countries. There is evidence of this behaviour in certain export products to China where the Chinese Government provides subsidies. When markup adjustment behaviour exists, the short-term dynamic mark-up adjustments are consistent with the long-term pricing behaviour in source countries.RMB Exchange Rate, Local Currency Price Stability, China, ASEAN, ASEAN+3

Acute Triangulations of the Cuboctahedral Surface

In this paper we prove that the surface of the cuboctahedron can be triangulated into 8 non-obtuse triangles and 12 acute triangles. Furthermore, we show that both bounds are the best possible.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, presented on CGGA201