STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING (SHM)

To present disruption in functionality or any other damage to infrastructure or to perform pre- and post-
earthquake assessment and evaluate integrity of structure. The seismic assessment is performed in a
systematic procedure the structure is assessed in four stages.

Tier 1 Rapid visual screening (RVS):

RVS methodology was first developed by “Applied Technical Council” in late 1980. RVS is a method
which assist in classifying the building into those that require detailed investigation and those that do not.
It is a quick way of assessing the building vulnerability based on visual inspection. Once identified as
potentially hazardous such building should be further evaluated by a design professional. It helps in
evaluating the resistance of a building against earthquake with performing structural calculations.

Methodology:

 Survey implementation: Performing a rapid visual screening involves several steps such as data
collection, planning etc. for seismically hazardous buildings. As a first step, a general procedure
should be approved. Second, the appropriate people should be informed about the purpose of the
survey and how it will be carried out.

 Budget Development and Cost Estimation: The RVS procedure is designed so field screening
of each building should take no more than 15 to 30 minutes time and funds should also be
allocated for pre-field data collection. Other factors that should be considered in cost estimation
 are training of personnel and the development and administration of a record keeping system
for the screening process.

 Pre-Field Planning: An area may be selected because it has a higher density of potentially
seismically hazardous buildings relative to other areas. For example, an older part of a
community that consists mainly of commercial unreinforcedmasonry buildings may be of a
higher priority than a newer area with mostly warehouse facilities, or a residential section of the
city consisting of wood-frame dwellings. A mapping system for the survey areas is extremely
important in the initial planning phase as well as in the scheduling of inspectors. Maps of soil
profiles, liquefaction potential, landslide potential, and active faults provide useful information
about the relative hazard indifferent areas. Discussions should include verification of when
certain aspects of seismic design and detailing were adopted and enforced by the municipality.
This will be used to determine the scoring factors and final score for each building.

 Data collection form: According to the study develop the new form for RVS system which is
helpful to the vulnerability of the structure. The data collection form provides space to record the
building identification information, draw a sketch of the building (plan and elevation views),
attach a photograph of the building, indicate occupancy, indicate the soil type, document the
existence of falling hazards, develop a Final Structural Score, S, for the building, indicate if a
detailed evaluation is required and provide additional comments.

 Determination of Cut-Off Score: Use of the RVS on a community-wide basis enables the RVS
authority to divide screened buildings into two categories: those that are expected to have
acceptable seismic performance, and those that may be seismically hazardous and should be
studied further. This requires that the RVS authority determine, preferably as part of the score.
An S score of 2 is suggested as a “cut-off”, based on present seismic design criteria. Using this
cut-off level, buildings having an S score of 2 or less should be investigated by a design
professional experienced in seismic design.

 Survey tools to be taken in the field: Clipboard for holding survey forms, pen or pencil,
camera, preferably instant (e.g., Polaroid), flashlight, tape or stapler (for affixing photo), straight
edge (optional for drawing sketches), copy of manual, simple hand calculator.
 Figure 1 Data Collection Form

Tier 2 Preliminary assessment (Evaluation phase, FEA Modelling):

If the structure is found to have score less than the cut-off score then the next step is followed in which
various non-destructive tests (NDTs) are performed on the structure. The information about these tests are
as follow;

 Duration of Tests: Instantaneous

 Cost: Economical
 Type of test: Non or Semi – Destructive
 Instrumentation: Rebound hammer, UPV, CAPO, Rebar Scanner, Carbonation, Half Cell
Potentiometer, Core Tests etc.