Dynamic tests for the design of a vibration-based SHM system for prompt assessment of health facilities

Health facilities play a primary role in post-earthquake emergency management. They are required to be fully operational after frequent earthquakes and ensure safety and support to the rescue operations in the case of strong motion. A number of structural monitoring programs have been recently issued in the United States, aimed at assessing the health of the structure after earthquakes. Other research programs are also focusing the attention on the condition assessment of non-structural components, equipment and installations. This paper describes the dynamic identi cation tests carried out on the building of the Main Hospital in Foggia (Southern Italy), that houses the maternity department. The building con-sists of three adjacent structural bodies and it is representative of typical layouts of existing facilities. In such conditions, the rst objective of the tests was the analysis of the expected dynamic interactions. The obtained results have been also used to de ne an opportune sensor layout for continuous vibration-based Structural Health Monitoring of the structure for rapid condition assessment after earthquakes.