Monitoring an In-Service Railway Bridge with a Distributed Fiber Optic Strain Sensing System
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 23, Issue 10
Abstract
Distributed fiber optic strain sensing systems could potentially provide a useful tool for bridge assessment by providing insights into member forces and connection behavior as well as local cross-section changes (e.g., due to deterioration) for steel truss bridges. To investigate the use of distributed fiber optic strain sensing systems, an in-service steel truss bridge that was built in 1902 had a fiber optic sensing system installed at midspan at the top and bottom chord connections. Three load scenarios were used: (a) static loading using a work train, (b) dynamic loading using a work train, and (c) dynamic loading using in-service increasing trains. The static test results indicated that the strains could be used to evaluate behavior in the members, including the presence of bending moments, and the impact of connections such as gusset plates and to locate changes in the member’s cross section. The dynamic load tests indicated that increasing train speed degrades the quality of the strain measurements. However, trends in the data can still be detected and are similar to those observed during static tests, although the detection of localized strain changes was less accurate.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and the Ontario Ministry of Innovation, Research and Science. The authors would also like to thank Jack Poldon and Paul Thrasher at Queen’s University and Jesse Woolnough, Julien Giuliani, Denny Jubani, Vamsi Tolikonda, and Ken Payne and his crew from the Canadian National Railway Company for their assistance with the research.
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Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 23 • Issue 10 • October 2018
Copyright
© 2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 20, 2017
Accepted: Mar 30, 2018
Published online: Jul 19, 2018
Published in print: Oct 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Dec 19, 2018
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