Research

Ongoing research topics in the laboratory

Chiaramonte Palace (Palermo)

San Matteo Bell Tower (Palermo)

Structural health Monitoring and Development of Dynamic Identification Algorithms Based on Ambient Vibrations

Ambient vibration modal identification, or Operational Modal Analysis, extracts structural modal properties from vibration data collected under normal conditions without artificial excitation. This non-invasive method is ideal for monitoring historic buildings. Since external forces are unknown, advanced stochastic techniques are required. An innovative approach using the Hilbert Transform and Analytical Signal was developed by our research group to improve identification accuracy. The method’s effectiveness was demonstrated through numerical examples and applied to real cases, including the historic Chiaramonte Palace and San Matteo bell tower in Palermo.

Monitoring of bridges through Vehicle-Bridge-Interaction (VBI)

Monitoring of bridges through VBI involves analyzing the dynamic response of vehicles as they cross a bridge to indirectly assess the bridge's structural condition. This approach enables cost-effective and non-invasive monitoring without the need for extensive sensor deployment on the bridge itself. By processing vibration and acceleration data collected from the vehicle, changes in the bridge’s stiffness or integrity can be detected over time. VBI techniques support continuous infrastructure assessment using commonly available data sources, such as vehicle-mounted sensors or smartphones. This methodology has also been demonstrated by our research group using both real and scaled-down vehicles.

Structural Control

Within the lab, a wide range of structural vibration control devices are studied, with a primary focus on passive control systems. These include base isolation systems, Tuned Mass Dampers (TMDs), Tuned Liquid Column Dampers (TLCDs), inerters, and various hybrid configurations. Research activities involve small-scale experimental testing to investigate the dynamic behavior of these systems and to evaluate how well theoretical models correspond to experimental results.

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Tuned Mass Damper (TMD)

A TMD is a mechanical device used to reduce the amplitude of vibrations in structures such as skyscrapers, bridges, or machinery. It consists of a sliding mass or a pendulum mounted on a structure with a spring and a damper. The system is tuned to oscillate at the same natural frequency as the structure it’s protecting. When the structure experiences vibrations, due to wind, earthquakes, or other dynamic forces, the TMD moves out of phase with the vibrations, absorbing and dissipating the energy. This reduces the overall movement and increases the comfort and safety of the structure.

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Tuned Liquid Column Damper (TLCD)

A Tuned Liquid Column Damper (TLCD) is a type of passive vibration control device that uses the movement of liquid (usually water) in a U-shaped or rectangular column to reduce vibrations in structures such as tall buildings, bridges, or offshore platforms.The movement of the liquid is tuned to the structure's natural frequency, so the out-of-phase motion of the liquid counteracts the structural motion.

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Inerters

The inerter is a mechanical device that uses rotational inertia to produce a strong inertial effect, or inertance. It behaves like a virtual mass far greater than its actual weight, enabling efficient vibration absorption without added mass. An improved version embeds the inerter in a rhombus truss, whose geometry amplifies motion and further boosts absorber performance.

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Vehicle-Induced Vibrations on the Human Body

Certain categories of workers, such as professional drivers, are regularly exposed to mechanical vibrations that can reduce driving comfort, impair attention, increase the risk of road accidents, and cause long-term harm to the human body. The research activities developed in our Laboratory focus on the development of real-time monitoring systems for assessing vibration exposure during driving.

These systems leverage low-cost sensors and advanced algorithms capable of identifying hazardous frequency content and triggering alerts to promote health and safety in the workplace. Additional efforts are dedicated to monitoring and mapping road surface conditions through innovative techniques based on data acquired from smartphones, enabling accessible and scalable solutions for infrastructure assessment and risk prevention.

The development of 3D-printed devices for vibration mitigation is also a focus of our lab, where the use of various 3D printers enables customized solutions to enhance health and safety in driving environments.

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