Investigation of mass change detection utilizing the digital image processing method

Currently, to obtain the dynamic properties of structures in structural engineering, experimental relationships, mathematical models and computer software aids are mainly used. These dynamic properties depend on many details about material behavior and the compound of the structures, which could not all be taken into account in analytical models. Therefore, there are always differences between the analytical models and the actual structures. So, seismic tests on structures is the most reliable method for obtaining these properties, so far, various methods have been developed in the world to preform these seismic experiments on the experimental structures such as image processing method. In this paper, the image processing method utilized through the dynamic properties of structures for mass change detection in the structure. For this purpose, a cantilever beam oscillated and the recorded displacements are considered as the inputs of the system identification. By deriving these displacements twice, the acceleration of the structure obtained and by processing these accelerations, natural frequency and shape mode of structure have been extracted and compared with the results of the accelerometer sensors embedded on the structure. Finally, mode shape curvature method utilized and the location of the sensors on the structure has been detected with good accuracy.