Raquel Ramos Pinho

Dynamic Pedobarography Transitional Objects by Lagrange’s Equation with FEM, Modal Matching and Optimization Techniques

This paper presents a physics-based approach to obtain 2D or 3D dynamic pedobarography transitional objects from two given images (2D or 3D). With the used methodology, we match nodes of the input objects by using modal matching, improved with optimization techniques, and solve the Lagrangian dynamic equilibrium equation to obtain the intermediate shapes. The strain energy involved can also be analysed and used to quantify local or global deformations.

EFFICIENT APPROXIMATION OF THE MAHALANOBIS DISTANCE FOR TRACKING WITH THE KALMAN FILTER

In this paper, we address the problem of tracking feature points along image sequences efficiently. Thus, to estimate the undergoing movement we use an approach based on Kalman filtering, which performs the prediction and correction of the features’ movement in every image frame. Measured data is incorporated by optimizing the global association set built on efficient approximations of the Mahalanobis distance (MD). We analyze the difference between the usage in the tracking results of the original MD formulation and its more efficient approximation, as well as the related computational costs. Experimental results which validate our approach are presented. (Extended paper from the International Symposium CompIMAGE – Coimbra, Portugal, 20-21 October 2006.)

Including Multiple IMTs in the Development of Fragility Functions for Earthquake Loss Estimation

This article presents a proposal for an innovative approach for including multiple intensity measure types (IMTs) in the representation of building fragility. Thousands of nonlinear dynamic analyses are performed in a 2D environment in which reinforced concrete frames are simulated using a Monte Carlo approach, according to geometrical and material variability of typical pre-code reinforced concrete buildings in Portugal. Seismic action variability is foreseen through the selection and scaling of appropriate Spectrum compatible record sets, following the most recent proposals for linking nonlinear dynamic analysis back to probabilistic seismic hazard. A literature review of seismic Intensity Measures is performed, in order to select a number of IMTs capable of representing a comprehensive set of earthquake shaking characteristics. A proposal for multiple IMT based fragility is outlined, whereby variability in structural damage effects along the considered seismic intensity range is accounted for by including the explicative power of an additional set of IMTs.