ABSTRACT
Similar to many other automation systems, information of excitations and system response are essential for smart seismic structures [3,4,19,25]. Sensing and data acquisition is the process of collecting information from the real world. For smart seismic structure applications, such information can be ground motion, control forces, as well as displacements, velocities, and accelerations of the structure. The information is first converted to electrical signals using sensors. Real-world seismic events and system response are analogs, and the sensor output signals, called measurements, are also analogs with continuous range of values. Because the sensor output signals have noises and may be weak, the signal is amplified and/or filtered by electrical instrumentation called signal conditioners. Figure 6.1a shows analog sensing and data acquisition in the smart structure system.
