Reliability assessment of the rotation algorithm for earthquake damage estimation

A rotation algorithm was developed that computes the slope of permanently deformed columns subjected to earthquake ground motion using micro-electro-mechanical system accelerometers. Previous studies by the authors have shown that the algorithm can provide estimates of the residual displacement in the column, and thus the story drift can be evaluated. The algorithm was validated through applications to columns that deflect in single and double curvature. Information from tests on such columns conducted at various laboratories was used to conduct the study. The optimal number of sensors and their placement on the test columns were determined through a series of numerical analyses. The accuracy of the rotation and displacement estimates is assessed under the assumptions of zero-noise sensors and perfect measurements. In this paper, the effect of measurement error and sensor noise on the predicted rotations and corresponding deformations is studied in order to provide bounds on the accuracy of the rotation algorithm and on the allowable sensor noise. The same test columns are used for the purposes of these analyses.