1996 · 15 citations · 0 references
EngineeringCivil EngineeringBridge EngineeringStructural EngineeringVibrationBridge Condition AssessmentBridge StrengtheningStructural Health MonitoringStructural VibrationVibration DiagnosticsVibration MonitoringBridge Health MonitoringBridge Structural DynamicsBridge Vibration AnalysisBridge Vibration DiagnosticsLoad CapacityRoad Traffic VibrationStructural Change DetectionStructural State Estimation
The current assessment programme for UK bridge stock is expected to indicate that a number of strategic routes contain bridges that do not meet current load capacity requirements. At the same time it is possible that some of these bridges have reserves of strength in excess of their calculated capacity. There is a case therefore for monitoring bridge performance to show whether its structural state is static, or whether deterioration is occurring. This paper describes some recent work which advances the use of traffic-induced vibration of a bridge as a means of integrity monitoring. Results from recent analytical modelling and full scale measurements show that there is potential, using the higher order modes of the bridge, to detect structural change. Methods have been developed which distinguish between normal structural changes, which arise from environmental causes - most notably temperature - and abnormal structural changes. The methods for detecting change are currently being validated during strengthening of a major bridge in the UK. These methods will then be developed for use as a tool to detect deterioration. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 882313.