Weigh-in-motion implementation in an old metallic railway bridge

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Cunha, A. (Author) FEUP; Marques, F. (Author) Other; Moutinho, C. (Author) FEUP; W.-H. Hu (Author) Other; Caetano, E. (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Engineering Structures

Vol. 123

Pages: 15-29

ISSN: 0141-0296

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 8 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 14 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering > Civil engineering > Structural engineering

FOS: Engineering and technology > Civil engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-J31

DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2016.05.016

Abstract (EN): The structural assessment of old metallic bridges is a challenge for civil engineers. This is mainly due to difficulties in identifying material properties and vehicle characteristics. A great number of these bridges were built with materials that are no longer used in modern structures and are presently subjected to loads very different from the ones considered in the design. In this context, structural monitoring can be an important tool to characterize the structural behavior and to support the safety assessment. In this paper, the steps taken to implement a Bridge-Weigh-in-Motion algorithm for traffic characterization in a railway bridge are presented. For that purpose, a long term monitoring system based on strain gauges was installed in the Portuguese Trezoi Bridge. The measurements from a period of approximately two years were used to obtain axle loads, axles spacing and velocities of the trains that crossed the bridge during this period, enabling the accurate characterization of the real traffic conditions. This was achieved applying a method for traffic characterization based on the research developed by Moses (1979) and also based on the recent research developed by Liljencrantz et al. (2007) and Quilligan (2003), which was enhanced by an optimization algorithm implemented to minimize the error of the simulated response when compared to the measured response of the structure, thus allowing the estimation axle loads, axle spacing and speed.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15