A multivariate adaptive regression splines based damage identification methodology for web core composite bridges including the effect of noise

A novel computationally efficient damage identification methodology for web core fiber-reinforced polymer composite bridges has been developed in this article based on multivariate adaptive regression splines in conjunction with a multi-objective goal-attainment optimization algorithm. The proposed damage identification methodology has been validated for several single and multiple damage cases. The performance of the efficient multivariate adaptive regression splines-based approach for the inverse system identification process is found to be quite satisfactory. An iterative scheme in conjunction with the multi-objective optimization algorithm coupled with multivariate adaptive regression splines is proposed to increase damage identification accuracy. The effect of noise on the proposed damage identification algorithm has also been addressed subsequently using a probabilistic framework. The multivariate adaptive regression splines-based damage identification algorithm is general in nature; therefore, in future it can be implemented to other structures.