Optimal Sensor Placement of RCC Dams using Modified Approach of COMAC-TTFD

The optimal sensor placement is the most important issues for structures health monitoring (SHM) of RCC (roller-compacted concrete) dams. In past studies, the main achievement focus on optimal criterions of sensor locations were considered via modal test. In this study a novel approach based on modified coordinate of modal assurance criterion (COMAC) with transferring time history analysis results to frequency domain (TTFD) for the SHM of RCC dam was evaluated. The nonlinear time history analysis of RCC dam subjected to near and far field earthquake were considered in TTFD process. The FEMCRTTFD code in MATLAB was designed as a toolbox to perform all of process of this novel approach by authors of this paper. The validation process of this code has been done via comparing with the reference study. The comparison between sensors placement that calculated by COMAC and TTFD show that the modified method has good agreement and accurate placement of smart sensors. Statistical results show that there is no significant difference between the results of TTFD method and COMAC in cracked dam, except Manjil earthquake (the mean of p-value = 0.717). The results indicate that considering modified COMAC calculation based on TTFD approach has an acceptable accuracy on identify the sensor location.