Optimal sensor placement for long-span cable-stayed bridge using a novel particle swarm optimization algorithm

In health monitoring of long-span structures, proper arrangement of sensors is a key point because of the need to acquire effective structural health information with limited testing resources. This study proposes a novel approach called dual-structure coding and mutation particle swarm optimization (DSC-MPSO) algorithm for the sensor placement. The cumulative effective modal mass participation factor is firstly derived to select the main contributions modes. A novel method combining dual-structure coding with the mutation operator is then utilized to determine the optimal sensors configurations. Finally, the feasibility of the DSC-MPSO algorithm is verified by optimizing the sensors locations for a long-span cable-stayed bridge. The effective independence method, genetic algorithm and standard particle swarm optimization algorithm are taken as contrast experiments. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm in this paper could improve the convergence speed and precision. Accordingly, the method is effective in solving optimal sensor placement problems.