Monitoring of Changes in Bridge Response Using Weigh-In-Motion Systems

Abstract:

Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) and Bridge Weigh-In-Motion (B-WIM) are systems that allow obtaining the axle weights of road vehicles in motion, at normal traffic speeds. While WIM employs sensors embedded in the road pavement, B-WIM use the strain recordings of a bridge to infer the traversing vehicle axle weights. Both systems have been heavily improved over the past decades, and commercial versions are currently in operation. The two main applications of these systems are: (1) to assess the traffic loading on the infrastructure, and (2) to enforce the maximum weight limits. This paper suggests a novel application of these two systems to identify changes in bridge stiffness. It requires the bridge to be instrumented with a B-WIM system and a WIM system nearby. The principle is to use both systems to evaluate the gross weight of vehicles passing over the bridge and correlate their predictions. Changes in correlation of the predicted axle weights over time will indicate either structural damage or faulty sensor. A finite element model of a coupled vehicle-bridge system with different damage scenarios is used to test the approach numerically. Vehicle mechanical properties and speeds are randomly sampled within a Monte Carlo simulation. Results show how correlation changes as damage increases and how this correlation can be employed as a damage indicator.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volumes 569-570)
• Pages: 183-190
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.569-570.183
• Online since: July 2013
• Authors: Daniel Cantero, Arturo González, Biswajit Basu
• Keywords: Bridge Health Monitoring, Damage Detection, Vehicle-Bridge Interaction, Weigh-in-Motion

References

[1] A. Gonzalez, Development of a Bridge Weigh-In-Motion System, LAP Lambert Academic Publishing AG & Co, Germany, (2010).

[2] F. Moses, Weigh-In-Motion system using instrumented bridges, ASCE Transportation Engineering Journal. 105 (1979) 233-249.

DOI: 10.1061/tpejan.0000783

[3] E.J. OBrien, M.J. Quilligan, R. Karoumi, Calculating an influence line from direct measurements, Bridge Engineering, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 159(2006)31-34.

DOI: 10.1680/bren.2006.159.1.31

[4] P. McNulty, E.J. OBrien, Testing of bridge weigh-in-motion system in a sub-Arctic climate, Journal of Testing and Evaluation. 31 (2003)497-506.

DOI: 10.1520/jte12377j

[5] E.J. OBrien, A. Žnidarič, T. Ojio, Bridge Weigh-In-Motion - Latest developments and applications worldwide, in: B. Jacob, E. OBrien, A. O'Connor, M. Bouteldja (Eds. ), Proceedings International Conference on Heavy Vehicles, Paris, 2008, pp.39-56.

DOI: 10.1002/9781118623305.ch2

[6] International Organization for Standardization ISO, Mechanical vibration – Road surface profiles - Reporting of measure data, ISO8608 (BS7853: 1996).

[7] D. Cantero, A. Gonzalez, E.J. OBrien, Comparison of bridge dynamic amplification due to articulated 5-axle trucks and large cranes, Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering. 6 (2011)39-47.

DOI: 10.3846/bjrbe.2011.06

[8] A. Žnidarič, A. Dempsey, I. Lavric, W. Baumgärtner, Bridge WIM systems without axle Detectors, in: B. Jacob (Ed. ), Proceedings of the final symposium of the project WAVE, Paris, 1999, pp.101-110.

[9] D. Cantero, E.J. OBrien, A. González, Modelling the vehicle in vehicle-infrastructure dynamic interaction studies, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part K, Journal of Multi-body Dynamics. 224(2010)243-248.

DOI: 10.1243/14644193jmbd228