Optimal multi-type sensor placement for monitoring high-rise buildings under bidirectional long-period ground motions

Towards a complete and accurate seismic assessment of a super high-rise building under bidirectional long-period ground motions, this study proposes an optimal multi-type sensor placement framework for the best reconstruction of structural responses and ground motions based on a full-scale 3D finite element (FE) model of the building. The selected locations and types of sensors are capable of not only capturing the coupled bending-torsional vibration but also providing an unbiased estimation of the unmeasured responses of seismic-vulnerable components and bidirectional ground motions. A Kalman filtering algorithm-based data fusion technique is employed to deal with the measurement data from multi-type sensors. With the target of achieving the best reconstruction, an optimal sensor placement (OSP) configuration, which minimizes the reconstruction error, is achieved through a sequential sensor placement algorithm. To assess the feasibility of the proposed OSP framework and the accuracy of reconstructed responses and ground motions, a numerical study is also performed on the full-scale 3D FE model of a super high-rise building. The torsional effects of the building under bidirectional long-period ground motions are assessed by comparison with the results without considering the torsional effect. The numerical results show that the proposed framework is feasible and the reconstructed responses and ground motions are accurate and that the torsional effects cannot be neglected in the seismic assessment of the building.