Measuring Dynamic Oscillations of a Small Span Cable-Stayed Footbridge: Case Study Using L1 GPS Receivers
Publication: Journal of Surveying Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 1
Abstract
Highly redundant or statically undetermined structures, such as a cable-stayed bridge, have been of particular concern to the engineering community nowadays because of the complex parameters that must be taken into account for healthy monitoring. The purpose of this study was to verify the reliability and practicability of using GPS to characterize dynamic oscillations of small span bridges. The test was carried out on a cable-stayed wood footbridge at Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos-Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. Initially a static load trial was carried out to get an idea of the deck amplitude and oscillation frequency. After that, a calibration trial was carried out by applying a well known oscillation on the rover antenna to check the environment detectable limits for the method used. Finally, a dynamic load trial was carried out by using GPS and a displacement transducer to measure the deck oscillation. The displacement transducer was used just to confirm the results obtained by the GPS. The results have shown that the frequencies and amplitude displacements obtained by the GPS are in good agreement with the displacement transducer responses. GPS can be used as a reliable tool to characterize the dynamic behavior of large structures such as cable-stayed footbridges undergoing dynamic loads.
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Acknowledgments
The writers express their gratitude to CAPES, the Brazilian agency supporting the student scholarship; to Department of Transports (PTR) of the Polytechnic School from São Paulo State University (USP) for loaning TOPOCON-JAVAD receivers; to Timber Laboratory of Department of Structures Engineering (LaMEN) of São Carlos Engineering School of the São Paulo State University (EESC-USP) for permission and help on trial on timber footbridge and for loaning transducer of displacement.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Surveying Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 1 • February 2009
Pages: 33 - 37
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Mar 28, 2007
Accepted: Mar 31, 2008
Published online: Feb 1, 2009
Published in print: Feb 2009
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