SHM method for damage localization based on substructuring and VARX models

— A novel damage localization method is proposed, which is based on a substructuring approach and makes use of Vector Auto-Regressive with eXogenous input (VARX) models. The substructuring approach aims to divide the monitored structure into several multi-DOF isolated substructures. Later, each individual substructure is modeled by a VARX model, and the health of each substructure is determined analyzing the variation of the VARX model. The method allows to detect whether the isolated substructure is damaged, and besides allows to locate the damage within the substructure. Only measured displacement data is required to estimate the isolated substructure's VARX model. Moreover, it is not necessary to have a priori knowledge of the structural model. The proposed method is validated by simulations of an eight-storey shear building.