Monitoring and Diagnostic Load Testing of a Damaged Railway Bridge

Abstract

This study presents a complex experimental research of a damaged steel railway bridge. Before the reconstruction, the elastic behavior of the material was evaluated using the hole-drilling strain gauge method of determining residual stresses at the relevant cross-sections. During the reconstruction project (lifting of the structure), a short-term monitoring system was installed at the critical cross-sections for continuous recording of strain. The aim was to evaluate the quality of the reconstruction intervention and prevent further damages. Following a successful reconstruction, a diagnostic load testing was performed according to Croatian standards. The purpose of the load testing (static and dynamic) was to evaluate the ability of the bridge to carry the design loads and calibrate the finite element models. During static load testing vertical displacement was measured as well as strain. Dynamic load testing of the bridge was performed in order to determine the main dynamic parameters of the structure and to calculate the dynamic factor. In order to select the appropriate measurement parameters and methods used during this experimental research it was necessary to consider the bridge type, materials and reconstruction or strengthening interventions. Especially, since this bridge was an example of insufficient inspection and maintenance during service. A well-designed monitoring and diagnostic load testing needed to be performed in order to obtain useful results for the decision makers involved.

Structural Analysis and Load Test of Railway Bridge

“…2 and strains of the structural elements were measured [3]. The static load test was divided into three types of loading conditions, each assessing the stress and deflection of different main parts of the bridge.…”

Behavior of a steel structure railway bridge under dynamic loadings

“…Many existing steel railway bridges sometimes received loads more significant than the loads during the design period. Load testing was applied on steel structure railway bridges to monitor the level of bridge damage to assess the work of the existing railway bridge [2]. Dynamic loading on a railway bridge is a significant parameter of infrastructures during post-construction maintenance.…”

Experimental-Numerical Study on the Flexural Ultimate Capacity of Prestressed Concrete Box Girders Subjected to Collision

“…To obtain the actual bearing capacity of existing bridges [ 11 , 12 ], destructive tests have been carried out to provide a reference for the evaluation of the bearing capacity of bridges [ 13 , 14 ]. There are many existing studies on reinforced concrete bridges, such as on reinforced concrete slabs [ 15 ] and reinforced concrete beams [ 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”