Nonlinear seismic analysis of city gate architectural heritages using a sensitive-based model updating method

Due to the unknown accumulation of internal damage and severe degradation of structural mechanisms, updating numerical model related to current damage using Operational Modal Analysis and performing nonlinear seismic analysis pose significant challenges. In this paper, a nonlinear seismic analysis method is proposed involving a three-stage finite element model updating process. This method not only updates the global parameters and local parameters of substructure, but also updates the FEM to true current damage state based on elastic-plastic constitutive model considering current damage. First, on-site vibration and material performance tests were conducted to obtain modal data and material properties of the structure. Second, each component in the model was updated to detect damage, employing a sensitivity-based approach in Stage 1. Then, each element within the severely damaged components obtained from Stage 1 was updated for damage detection, again using a sensitivity-based approach in Stage 2. Finally, the current damage state was updated based on elastoplastic constitutive model considering the current damage and a seismic analysis was performed in Stage 3. The results indicate that, in Stage 1, updating the global parameters of the model aligns the calculated data with the measured data. In Stage 2, updating the local parameters to accurately identify the location and severity of damage within the heavily affected components is demonstrated by a simple example. These results can establish a scientific foundation for the nonlinear seismic analysis of city gate architectural heritages.