Papers by Keyword: Bridge Assessment

Abstract: Developed in 2000, the Taiwan Bridge Management System (TBMS) is an internet-based, nation-wide bridge management system used by all of the bridge management agencies in Taiwan. Currently, the TBMS has an inventory of more than 24,300 bridges with 14 years of visual inspection data and maintenance records. The inspection data of each bridge are input into the TBMS at least once per two years. In order to have a fast assessment of bridge condition in resisting natural disasters and traffic loads, five indices are established in this research: (1) Degree of flood resistance (DF), (2) Degree of mudflow resistance (DM), (3) Degree of earthquake resistance (DE), (4) Degree of loads resistance (DL), and (5) Degree of collapse resistance (DC). Calculation of these five indices is based on the inventory and visual inspection data of each bridge without further thorough site investigation. These indices are used for screening or sieving bridges out of the TBMS inventory that are potentially vulnerable to natural disasters or traffic loads, thus maintenance efforts can be put on such bridges to improve the efficiency of bridge management.

Abstract: During annual inspections of one of Sweden’s most important railway bridges, the Söderström Bridge in central Stockholm, cracks in the web of the main steel beams have been discovered. Extensive theoretical work has been undertaken to assess the remaining service life of the bridge. Furthermore, the bridge has recently been instrumented to enhance the theoretical predictions by monitoring the real railway traffic as well as the response of the bridge. This article describes the monitoring program and the analysis methods used. Some interesting results regarding the remaining fatigue life are presented.