A topological entropy‐based approach for damage detection of civil engineering structures

In this study, a new method based on topological entropy, the so‐called persistent entropy, is presented for addressing the damage detection problem in civil engineering structures. The efficiency of the algorithm is certificated by the stability theorem for persistent entropy. The method, which has been previously used for the classification of DC electrical motors, has been adapted herein to solve the supervised classification damage detection problem. For this purpose, a laboratory footbridge was designed, built and subsequently damaged. Two states of the structure were considered: (i) undamaged and (ii) damaged. Its response under ambient conditions was recorded both numerically and experimentally. Later, its persistent entropy was computed under the different situations. Finally, it was checked that there is a clear relationship between the stiffness of the structure and its persistent entropy. Therefore, the proposed method can be considered as an available tool for the damage detection of civil engineering structures.