Modal Identification of Structures with Interacting Diaphragms

System identification proves in general to be very efficient in the extraction of modal parameters of a structure under ambient vibrations. However, great difficulties can arise in the case of structures composed of many connected bodies, whose mutual interaction may lead to a multitude of coupled modes. In the present work, a methodology to approach the identification of interconnected diaphragmatic structures, exploiting a simplified analytical model, is proposed. Specifically, a parametric analysis has been carried out on a numerical basis on the simplified model, i.e., a multiple spring–mass model. The results were then exploited to aid the identification of a significant case study, represented by the Pavilion V, designed by Riccardo Morandi as a hypogeum hall of the Turin Exhibition Center. The structure is indeed composed of three blocks separated by expansion joints, whose characteristics are unknown. As the main result, light was shed on the contribution of the stiffness of the joints to the global dynamic behavior of structures composed of interacting diaphragms, and, in particular, on the effectiveness of the joints of Pavilion V.