Use of structural health monitoring data to evaluate the effects of permit vehicles and the creation of a synthesized report format

Date
2017
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University of Delaware
Abstract
Current methods for load rating bridges are based on simple girder analysis. This is not an ideal procedure for many complex bridges, and as more and more complex bridges are built, new methods are needed to aid bridge owners in generating accurate load ratings. When trying to accurately load rate a complex bridge, such as a cable-stayed bridge, the use of analysis results from detailed FEM models is required. This results in a very time consuming and costly process. ☐ The research reported herein focuses on a specific class of vehicles for rating known as permit vehicles. Permit vehicles are very large loads that exceed the legal limit and need to be individually evaluated to see if they can be permitted to cross a specific bridge (sometimes with specific restrictions). In order to determine if a permit vehicle can cross a bridge, the bridge owner must first evaluate the vehicle’s effect on the bridge, and if needed, determine the necessary restrictions for the vehicle. ☐ This research aims to provide a simple method for rating permit vehicles for complex bridges through the utilization of structural health monitoring (SHM) data. By using a combination of influence lines generated based on SHM data and traditional load rating equations, a method for determining a rating factor for any vehicle that crosses a bridge is developed. This method is then applied to the Indian River Inlet Bridge. ☐ A second, and separate, contribution of the research was to create a simple synthesized quarterly report format that would enable DelDOT to more easily understanding the data produced by the Indian River Inlet Bridge’s SHM system. The report provides a quick way of viewing and evaluating three-month’s worth of data. This allows the owner to quickly see how the bridge is performing, and can help to identify any issues that may need attention.
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