2013 Session: 525

• Evolution of Bridge Damage-Detection Algorithm
  Abstract: This paper describes several of the many steps required to develop one of the many pieces of the structural health monitoring (SHM) system puzzle. This development has undergone a series of steps, iterations, and refinements including initial concepting, alpha-testing, analytical investigation, beta-testing, concept upgrading, and field evaluations. Although not necessarily a “blue-print” for developing such systems, this serves as a case-study for taking an initial concept through multiple steps culminating in a validated approach. As SHM becomes a more widely accepted and adopted bridge evaluation protocol, it will be imperative that developers understand the steps required to develop such systems. This work represents one example of such a process.
  Authors: Phares, Brent Matthew; Lu, Ping; Wipf, Terry J.; Greimann, Lowell; Seo, Junwon
  Authors: Phares, Brent Matthew; Lu, Ping; Wipf, Terry J.; Greimann, Lowell; Seo, Junwon
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 525
  Paper Number: 13-0730
• Bridge Weigh-in-Motion on Steel Orthotropic Decks and Application to Bridge Assessment
  Abstract: Bridge weigh-in-motion uses an instrumented bridge as a scale to weigh vehicles. Several types of bridges may be used, if being sensitive to wheel or axle loads. Here some strains of steel orthotropic deck bridges are measured by extensometers and analyzed by software, to calculate axle loads and gross vehicle weights. Between 2009 and 2011, several large scale tests were done on the Millau viaduct (France), the tallest cable stayed bridge in the world. These tests showed that the system meets the accuracy class C(15)/D+(20) of the European WIM Specifications. The data obtained can be used for fatigue checks, because it assesses truck sizes and weights of the traffic and the behaviour of the bridge. We show here that bridge lifetimes under current and possible future traffic loads, after an increase of the GVW limit from 40 tons to 44 tons in France, could be reduced by 20%.
  Authors: Jacob, Bernard A.; Leng, Sio-Song; Schmidt, Franziska
  Authors: Jacob, Bernard A.; Leng, Sio-Song; Schmidt, Franziska
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 525
  Paper Number: 13-1452
• Instrumentation and Long Term Monitoring of Three Integral Abutment Bridges in Vermont
  Abstract: The Vermont Agency of Transportation has initiated a program of field instrumentation and analysis to evaluate the performance of three Integral Abutment Bridges. The research components are being conducted by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Three bridges are studied, a straight girder non-skewed bridge with 43.0 m (141.0 ft) span, a straight girder 15 degree skewed bridge with 37.0 m (121.4 ft) span, and a curved girder non-skewed two-span continuous structure with 11.25 degrees of curvature and 68.0 m (221.8 ft) total bridge length. The bridges instrumentation includes strain gages, pressure cells, crack meters, inclinometers, tilt meters and thermistors to monitor long term response to seasonal thermal load. This paper describes the bridge details and instrumentation at these sites and reports on the overall bridge movements and pile moments through the first year of data. The bridges with moderate skew of 15 degrees and curvature of 11.25 degrees exhibited longitudinal abutment deformations similar to what would be expected in a straight girder non-skewed structure. The transverse abutment displacements of these bridges were less than 4 mm (0.15 in.). However, pile restraint of transverse abutment displacements resulted in strong axis pile moments exceeding those about the weak axis. Therefore, for these bridges a two-dimensional analysis captures global deformations, but design would need to account for bi-axial bending in piles.
  Authors: Civjan, Scott Adam; Kalayci, Emre; Brena, Sergio; Allen, Chad
  Authors: Civjan, Scott Adam; Kalayci, Emre; Brena, Sergio; Allen, Chad
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 525
  Paper Number: 13-2066
• Dynamic Characterization of a Truss Bridge by Falling-Weight Deflectometer
  Abstract: There are several full-scale testing methods that can be used to characterize and evaluate the global performance and condition of bridges. These global methods mainly consist of static load tests and dynamic testing methods using either controlled or uncontrolled dynamic excitation. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages with respect to experimental and logistical considerations, data analysis requirements, and the scope and utility of the characterization results obtained. This paper presents a global dynamic characterization program based on controlled impact dynamic testing that was applied to a truss bridge. The impact testing was performed using a hand-held impact hammer and a falling weight deflectometer (FWD) as dynamic excitation sources. The objective of the project was to evaluate if the FWD, which can produce a broadband dynamic force, can be effectively used as a tool for quantitatively characterizing the performance and condition of bridges. Many transportation agencies already use FWD devices for their pavement evaluation programs and it follows that if the device can be successfully used for impact dynamic testing of bridges, these agencies could their FWDs to also quantitatively evaluate their bridges. The paper discusses different dynamic testing approaches and presents an impact dynamic testing program executed for the truss bridge. The results obtained using the two dynamic excitation devices are presented and compared with each other, and with the results from an analytical model of the bridge. Finally, several observations and conclusions related to the efficacy of FWD devices for impact dynamic testing of bridges are presented and discussed.
  Authors: Fernstrom, Eric Victor; Carreiro, Jessica L.; Rawn, Jeremy D.; Grimmelsman, Kirk A.
  Authors: Fernstrom, Eric Victor; Carreiro, Jessica L.; Rawn, Jeremy D.; Grimmelsman, Kirk A.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 525
  Paper Number: 13-5182
• Bridge Weigh-in-Motion on Steel Orthotropic Decks and Application to Bridge Assessment
  Authors: Jacob, Bernard
  Authors: Jacob, Bernard
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 525
  Paper Number: 13-1452
• Evolution of Bridge Damage-Detection Algorithm
  Authors: Phares, Brent
  Authors: Phares, Brent
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 525
  Paper Number: 13-0730
• Instrumentation and Long Term Monitoring of Three Integral Abutment Bridges in Vermont
  Authors: Civjan, Scott
  Authors: Civjan, Scott
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 525
  Paper Number: 13-2066
• Dynamic Characterization of a Truss Bridge by Falling-Weight Deflectometer
  Authors: Grimmelsman, Kirk
  Authors: Grimmelsman, Kirk
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Bridges and Other Structures; Design; Maintenance and Preservation
  Session: 525
  Paper Number: 13-5182