Objective Load Rating of a Steel-Girder Bridge Using Structural Modeling and Health Monitoring
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 10
Abstract
The future of highway infrastructure in the United States is at a critical junction. Nearly one-third of U.S. bridges are nearing the end of their design life, and one in ten bridges is categorized as structurally deficient. While the design and construction of the next generation of U.S. highway bridges is underway, existing bridges must be maintained through proper inspection and load rating. This paper proposes an objective load rating protocol that takes advantage of a shift in the bridge design, construction, and management paradigm to include structural modeling, instrumentation, and nondestructive testing. A baseline structural model is created and verified using structural health monitoring (SHM) data collected during a controlled static load test. The structural model is then used to calculate load rating factors of the bridge at both current and simulated damaged conditions. The resulting load rating factors are compared with the AASHTO load resistance factor rating method.
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Acknowledgments
This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. 0650258 and 0644683. The authors thank MassDOT and the Town of Barre for access to the Powder Mill Pond Bridge; Fay Spofford & Thorndike, Inc., for providing access to the design calculations and drawings; and bridge contractor E. T. & L. Corporation and its subconsultants, High Steel Structures, Inc., and Atlantic Bridge and Engineering, Inc., for their support and access during construction for instrumentation, including accommodating researchers during instrumentation at the steel yard. Thanks to Geocomp Corporation for extensive help during the instrumentation phase. Additional thanks to Tufts University graduate student Mr. John Phelps for contributions to instrumentation and testing of the Powder Mill Pond Bridge.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 10 • October 2013
Pages: 1771 - 1779
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 31, 2011
Accepted: Mar 1, 2012
Published online: Sep 16, 2013
Published in print: Oct 1, 2013
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