Altunişik, A.C.; Okur, F.Y.; Genç, A.F.; Günaydin, M.; Karahasan, O.

Finite element models supply the simulation of the problems to obtain the structural behaviors under different loading conditions. The updating processes based on changing the uncertain parameters such as material properties, boundary conditions, meshing size etc. are made to create actual finite element models in order to represent the real conditions of the problems. This procedure can be made using two methods, namely manual model updating and global/local automatic model updating. The global/local automatic model updating procedures are very popular owing to the applicability to all kind of engineering structures, minimizing the differences nearly to zero, availability of damage localization and structural health monitoring. In this paper a historical masonry armory building selected as an application and its finite element analyses, experimental measurements and automated model updating processes are carried out. The finite element model of the structures was developed with ANSYS software and first three natural frequencies are attained. The experimental dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies, damping ratios and mode shapes are obtained using ambient vibration method. The differences between experimental and numerical frequencies are minimized up to the range of 0–1%, by using local updating procedure. The linear and nonlinear seismic analyses of the building are conducted on initial and updated models. At the end of the analyses, maximum displacements, principal stresses and strains are given with detail. In addition, crack distributions diagrams are attained to validate the stresses accumulation points. It can be seen that there is an increasing trend in the displacement, stress and strain values after finite element model updating both linear and nonlinear analysis. In addition, linear and nonlinear analysis results are compared with each other to evaluate the nonlinear analysis effect. It is concluded that the displacement and strain values are increased after nonlinear analysis. But, there is not any agreement in stress values.

Sevim, B.; Bayraktar, A.; Altunişik, A.C.; Adanur, S.; Akköse, M.

This study investigated the water level effects on the dynamic characteristics of a prototype arch dam model using ambient vibration testing were investigated. Achievement of this purpose involved construction of a prototype arch dam-reservoir-foundation model under laboratory. The dam body was constructed with 60 cm height. Ambient vibration tests on the arch dam estimated its natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios for different water levels. In the ambient vibration tests, ambient excitations are provided from small impact effects and the responses of the arch dam are measured. It can be stated from the study that natural frequencies are not overly changed among 0-30 cm water levels; however they are increased for higher water levels. The difference between the first natural frequencies of the arch dam obtained from empty reservoir (H = 0 cm) and full reservoir (H = 60 cm) is about 20-25%.

Altunişik, A.C.; Bayraktar, A.; Sevim, B.

The paper determines the dynamic characteristics of an arch type steel highway bridge applying ambient vibration testing. A modern steel highway bridge which has arch type structural system with 216m total length and located in the Ayvacik county of Samsun, Turkey is selected as an application. Because of the fact that the bridge connects the villages which are separated with Suat Ugurlu Dam Lake, it has a major logistical importance for this region. The construction of the bridge completed in 2009 and opened the traffic. The experimental meas-urements are carried out by ambient vibration tests under traffic loads. Vibration data are gath-ered from the bridge deck. Measurement time, frequency span and effective mode number are determined considering similar studies in the literature and initial finite element analysis re-sults. Stochastic Subspace Identification technique (SSI) in the time domain are used for the output only modal identification and dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios are determined, experimentally.