Discipline: Technology and Engineering
Subcategory: Civil/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering
Nigel Knights - Howard University
Co-Author(s): Eduardo Ismael-Hernández, Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Earthquakes and ground accelerations impact the structural vulnerability of buildings that are exposed to frequent volumes of seismic activity. Seismic activity causes changes to the structural dynamics of buildings, which may catalyze structural failure, leading to catastrophic events such as mass fatalities and extensive building repairs. Structural analysis of vulnerabilities of buildings through sensor networks is a more efficient alternative method implemented by civil engineers in order to constantly analyze and measure the global dynamic properties of multi-story public facilities (hospitals, schools, etc.) that experiences levels of seismic activity. To achieve measurements of the structural vulnerability of a building, the structural analysis of vulnerabilities of buildings through sensor networks utilizes analytic models, ground acceleration measurements, structural model simulations, simplified reference systems, and wireless sensor networks. More so, in the events of seismic activity, sensor networks measure ambient vibrations and the lateral and vertical distortion of a structure. To obtain a more efficient data analysis, this project eliminates the transversal displacements of a building and limits a buildings measurable movement to lateral and vertical. Resulting data and measurements obtained by the wireless sensor networks are used to assess structural damage and formulate safety criterion for a modeled and tested building. Further implementation of sensor networks on buildings in regions with substantial seismic activity enables civil engineers to achieve safer structural standards in the events of seismic activity along with efficient methods to assess building seismic vulnerability at the earliest stages possible.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): Howard University, NSF, UPAEP.
Faculty Advisor: Radscheda Nobles, radscheda.nobles@bison.howard.edu
Role: My part of the research included utilizing engineering softwares including Geopsy and ARTeMIS to analyze vibrations on susceptible structures. I also modeled the tested structure and implemented wireless sensor networks to assess structural vulnerabilities.