Smart Structures and Systems · 2014 · 117 citations · 16 references
EngineeringCivil EngineeringBridge EngineeringStructural EngineeringVibrationBridge Condition AssessmentBridge DynamicsBridge Structural AnalysisStructural Health MonitoringStructural Response AnalysisBeam DamageBridge Damage AssessmentDamage IdentificationDamage State IdentificationDamage State ModelingRoad Roughness EffectsStiffnessStructural Damage Identification
The study develops an indirect method to assess bridge condition using mode shapes derived from passing vehicle responses. The method models a two‑dimensional beam interacting with passing vehicles as sprung masses, simulating support immobilization and central beam stiffness loss under varying road roughness and measurement noise to test feasibility. Mode‑shape estimates can detect severe damage (e.g., support immobilization) only when noise is absent, and the approach requires many measurements to remain robust in noisy conditions.
In this study, an indirect approach is developed for assessing the state of a bridge on the basis of mode shapes estimated by the responses of passing vehicles. Two types of damages, i.e., immobilization of a support and decrease in beam stiffness at the center, are evaluated with varying degrees of road roughness and measurement noise. The assessment theory's feasibility is verified through numerical simulations of interactive vibration between a two-dimensional beam and passing vehicles modeled simply as sprung mass. It is determined that the damage state can be recognized by the estimated mode shapes when the beam incurs severe damage, such as immobilization of rotational support, and the responses contain no noise. However, the developed theory has low robustness against noise. Therefore, numerous measurements are needed for damage identification when the measurement is contaminated with noise.
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