Chapter 21 Bridge Assessment Using Weigh-in-Motion and Acoustic Emission Methods L. Dieng, C. Girardeau, L. Gaillet, Y. Falaise, A. Žnidaricˇ, and M. Ralbovsky Abstract Most of civil engineering structures are subjected to potential damages mainly due to dynamic oscillations induced by wind, rain or traffic. The aim of this paper is to combined Bridge Weigh-In-Motion (B-WIM) technic and Acoustic Emission (AE) monitoring in order to evaluate the health state of bridge structures. AE technique is able to determine location of active damage zones, if sufficient density of sensors is used. Within TRIMM European project, this technique was for the first time combined with Bridge-Weigh-In-Motion (BWIM) technique to correlate real traffic load level with registered cracking activity. Combination of AE and B-WIM techniques enables determining of load level at which nonlinearities start to develop. The technique provides an indication of progressing structural damage under operating traffic loads. Keywords Bridge • Weigh-in-motion • Acoustic emission • Cracks 21.1 Introduction This paper refers to the accomplished work in TRIMM Work-Package 3: Advanced Bridge Monitoring Techniques. Measurement techniques have been applied on bridges since the need for accurate data in assessment arose. The techniques developed from determination of crack width to measurements of settlement, inclination, strain and vibration. Bridge monitoring has evolved from these techniques, driven by the need of continuous data acquisition. Monitoring data offered the engineers an opportunity to compare actual with assumed bridge behaviour, further to detect structural changes in time, and ultimately use this information to improve maintenance management. Continuous monitoring systems are nowadays used on a number of bridges worldwide so that these measurement systems became well established. Recent improvements in availability of mobile data transmission as well as computer hardware further accelerated spread of continuous bridge monitoring applications. The aim of TRIMM WP3 is to provide managers of road infrastructure assets more developed tools for assessment of bridges. The primary goal of the advanced tools is to deliver more accurate information about bridge condition. This information is essential for efficient, sustainable and cost-effective decision making, at both the network and project level. Two main aspects of the advanced monitoring methods are early detection of developing damages and accurate determination of damage type and extent. This information can be used in planning of maintenance measured. Bridge management and maintenance is currently considered as a reactive process without consideration of future developments. Road operators rely mostly on periodic visual inspections that are carried in interval of several years. Sometimes additional investigations are performed if it is considered necessary to obtain more detail information. This widespread inspection methodology assumes that relevant damages are visible in a stage that is sufficient to implement proper maintenance measures. L. Dieng ( ) • C. Girardeau • L. Gaillet • Y. Falaise Ifsttar, MAST, Centre de Nantes, Route de Bouaye - BP 4129, 44341 Bouguenais, France e-mail: lamine.dieng@ifsttar.fr A. Žnidaricˇ ZAG, Srednje Gameljne, Ljubljana, Slovenia e-mail: ales.znidaric@zag.si M. Ralbovsky AIT, Seibersdorf, Austria e-mail: marian.ralbovsky@ait.ac.at © The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc. 2016 S. Pakzad, C. Juan (eds.), Dynamics of Civil Structures, Volume 2, Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-29751-4_21 205
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