• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.189-199
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• 2024

To properly extract the strain components under varying operational conditions is very important in bridge health monitoring. The abnormal sensor readings can be correctly identified and the expected operational performance of the bridge can be better understood if each strain components can be accurately quantified. In this study, strain components under varying load conditions, i.e., temperature variation and live-load variation are evaluated based on field strain measurements collected from a real concrete box-girder bridge. Temperature-induced strain is mainly regarded as the trend variation along with the ambient temperature, thus a smoothing technique based on the wavelet packet decomposition method is proposed to estimate the temperature-induced strain. However, how to effectively extract the vehicle-induced strain is always troublesome because conventional threshold setting-based methods cease to function: if the threshold is set too large, the minor response will be ignored, and if too small, noise will be introduced. Therefore, an autoencoder framework is proposed to evaluate the vehicle-induced strain. After the elimination of temperature and vehicle-induced strain, the left of which, defined as the model error, is used to assess the operational performance of the bridge. As empirical techniques fail to detect the degraded state of the structure, a clustering technique based on Gaussian Mixture Model is employed to identify the damage occurrence and the validity is verified in a simulation study.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.693-701
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• 2020

The conventional Kalman Filter (KF) provides a promising way for structural state estimation. However, the physical parameters of structural systems or models should be available for the estimation. Moreover, it is not applicable when the loadings applied to the structures are unknown. To circumvent the aforementioned limitations, a two-stage KF with unknown input approach is proposed for the simultaneous identification of structural parameters and unknown loadings. In stage 1, a modified observation equation is employed. The structural state vector is estimated by KF on the basis of structural parameters identified at the previous time-step. Then, the unknown input is identified by Least Squares Estimation (LSE). In stage 2, based on the concept of sensitivity matrix, the structural parameters are updated at the current time-step by using the estimated structural states obtained from stage 1. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is numerically validated via a five-story shearing model under random and earthquake excitations. Shaking table tests on a five-story structure are also employed to demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach. It is demonstrated from numerical and experimental results that the proposed approach can be used for the identification of parameters of structure and the external force applied to it with acceptable accuracy.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.997-1017
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• 2014

According to the structure characteristics of the non-uniform beam bridge, a practical model for calculating the vibration equation of the non-uniform beam bridge is given and the application scope of the model includes not only the beam bridge structure but also the non-uniform beam with added masses and elastic supports. Based on the Bernoulli-Euler beam theory, extending the application of the modal perturbation method and establishment of a semi-analytical method for solving the vibration equation of the non-uniform beam with added masses and elastic supports based is able to be made. In the modal subspace of the uniform beam with the elastic supports, the variable coefficient differential equation that describes the dynamic behavior of the non-uniform beam is converted to nonlinear algebraic equations. Extending the application of the modal perturbation method is suitable for solving the vibration equation of the simply supported and continuous non-uniform beam with its arbitrary added masses and elastic supports. The examples, that are analyzed, demonstrate the high precision and fast convergence speed of the method. Further study of the timesaving method for the dynamic characteristics of symmetrical beam and the symmetry of mode shape should be developed. Eventually, the effects of elastic supports and added masses on dynamic characteristics of the three-span non-uniform beam bridge are reported.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.799-810
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• 2021

When monitoring the structural integrity of a bridge using data collected through accelerometers, identifying the profile of the load exerted on the bridge from the vehicles passing over it becomes a crucial task. In this study, the speed and location of vehicles on the deck of a bridge is reconfigured using real-time video to implicitly associate the load applied to the bridge with the response from the bridge sensors to develop an image-based deep learning network model. Instead of directly measuring the load that a moving vehicle exerts on the bridge, the intention in the proposed method is to replace the correlation between the movement of vehicles from CCTV images and the corresponding response by the bridge with a neural network model. Given the framework of an input-output-based system identification, CCTV images secured from the bridge and the acceleration measurements from a cantilevered beam are combined during the process of training the neural network model. Since in reality, structural damage cannot be induced in a bridge, the focus of the study is on identifying local changes in parameters by adding mass to a cantilevered beam in the laboratory. The study successfully identified the change in the material parameters in the beam by using the deep-learning neural network model. Also, the method correctly predicted the acceleration response of the beam. The proposed approach can be extended to the structural health monitoring of actual bridges, and its sensitivity to damage can also be improved through optimization of the network training.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.803-818
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• 2013

In this study, analytical and experimental modal analyses of a scaled bridge model are carried out to extract the dynamic characteristics such as natural frequency, mode shapes and damping ratios. For this purpose, a scaled bridge model is constructed in laboratory conditions. Three dimensional finite element model of the bridge is constituted and dynamic characteristics are determined, analytically. To identify the dynamic characteristics experimentally; Experimental Modal Analyses (ambient and forced vibration tests) are conducted to the bridge model. In the ambient vibration tests, natural excitations are provided and the response of the bridge model is measured. Sensitivity accelerometers are placed to collect signals from the measurements. The signals collected from the tests are processed by Operational Modal Analysis; and the dynamic characteristics of the bridge model are estimated using Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition and Stochastic Subspace Identification methods. In the forced vibration tests, excitation of the bridge model is induced by an impact hammer and the frequency response functions are obtained. From the finite element analyses, a total of 8 natural frequencies are attained between 28.33 and 313.5 Hz. Considering the first eight mode shapes, these modes can be classified into longitudinal, transverse and vertical modes. It is seen that the dynamic characteristics obtained from the ambient and forced vibration tests are close to each other. It can be stated that the both of Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition and Stochastic Subspace Identification methods are very useful to identify the dynamic characteristics of the bridge model. The first eight natural frequencies are obtained from experimental measurements between 25.00-299.5 Hz. In addition, the dynamic characteristics obtained from the finite element analyses have a good correlation with experimental frequencies and mode shapes. The MAC values obtained between 90-100% and 80-100% using experimental results and experimental-analytical results, respectively.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.169-180
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• 2019

The underlying mechanism of the wind-induced vibration of the hangers of the suspension bridges is still not fully understood at present and hence is comprehensively examined in this study. More specifically, a series of field measurements on the No. 2 hanger of the Xihoumen Bridge was first carefully conducted. Large amplitude vibrations of the hanger were found and the oscillation amplitude of the leeward cable was obviously larger than that of the windward cables. Furthermore, the trajectory of the leeward cable was close to an ellipse, which agreed well with the major characteristics of wake-induced vibration. Then, a theoretical model for the wake-induced vibration based on a 3-D continuous cable was established. To obtain the responses of the leeward cable, the finite difference method (FDM) was adopted to numerically solve the established motion equation. Finally, numerical simulations by using the structural parameters of the No. 2 hanger of the Xihoumen Bridge were carried out within the spatial range of $4{\leq}X{\leq}10$ and $0{\leq}Y{\leq}4$ with a uniform interval of ${\Delta}X={\Delta}Y=0.25$. The results obtained from numerical simulations agreed well with the main features obtained from the field observations on the Xihoumen Bridge. This observation indicates that the wake-induced vibration might be one of the reasons for the hanger oscillation of the suspension bridge. In addition, the effects of damping ratio and windward cable movement on the wake-induced vibration of the leeward cable were numerically investigated.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.251-269
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• 2014

To investigate the seismic performance and to obtain quantitative parameters for the requirement of performance-based bridge seismic design approach, 12 reinforced concrete (RC) hollow rectangular bridge column specimens were tested under constant axial load and cyclic bending. Parametric study is carried out on axial load ratio, aspect ratio, longitudinal reinforcement ratio and transverse reinforcement ratio. The damage states of these column specimens were related to engineering limit states to determine the quantitative criteria of performance-based bridge seismic design. The hysteretic behavior of bridge column specimens was simulated based on the fiber model in OpenSees program and the results of the force-displacement hysteretic curves were well agreed with the experimental results. The damage states of residual cracking, cover spalling, and core crushing could be well related to engineering limit states, such as longitudinal tensile strains of reinforcement or compressive strains of concrete, etc. using cumulative probability curves. The ductility coefficient varying from 3.71 to 8.29, and the equivalent viscous damping ratio varying from 0.19 to 0.31 could meet the requirements of seismic design.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.51-73
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• 2014

A three-dimensional finite element model for the Jiashao Bridge, the longest multi-span cable-stayed bridge in the world, is established using the commercial software package ANSYS. Dynamic characteristics of the bridge are analyzed and the effects of structural system measures including the rigid hinge, auxiliary piers and longitudinal constraints between the girders and side towers on the dynamic properties including modal frequency, mode shape and effective mass are studied by referring to the Jiashao Bridge. The analysis results reveal that: (i) the installation of the rigid hinge significantly reduces the modal frequency of the first symmetric lateral bending mode of bridge deck. Moreover, the rigid hinge significantly changes the mode shape and effective mass of the first symmetric torsional mode of bridge deck; (ii) the layout of the auxiliary piers in the side-spans has a limited effect on changing the modal frequencies, mode shapes and effective masses of global vibration modes; (iii) the employment of the longitudinal constraints significantly increases the modal frequencies of the vertical bending modes and lateral bending modes of bridge deck and have significant effects on changing the mode shapes of vertical bending modes and lateral bending modes of bridge deck. Moreover, the effective mass of the first anti-symmetric vertical bending of bridge deck in the longitudinal direction of the fully floating system is significantly larger than that of the partially constrained system and fully constrained system. The results obtained indicate that the structural system measures of the multi-span cable-stayed bridge have a great effect on the dynamic properties, which deserves special attention for seismic design and wind-resistant design of the multi-span cable-stayed bridge.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

Severe fatigue and noise problems of modular bridge expansion joints (MBEJs) are often induced by vehicle loads. However, the dynamic characteristics of single-support MBEJs have yet to be further investigated. To better understand the vibration mechanism of single-support MBEJs under vehicle loads, a 3D finite element model of single-support MBEJ with five center beams is built. Successive vehicle loads are given out and the vertical dynamic responses of each center beams are analyzed under the successive loads. Dynamic amplification factors (DAFs) are also calculated along with increasing vehicle velocities from 20 km/h to 120 km/h with an interval 20 km/h. The research reveals the vibration mechanism of the single-support MBEJs considering coupled center beam resonance, which shows that dynamic responses of a given center beam will be influenced by the neighboring center beams due to their rebound after the vehicle wheels depart. Maximal DAF 1.5 appears at 120 km/h on the second center beam. The research results can be utilized for reference in the design, operation and maintenance of single-support MBEJs.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2019

In this study, it has been tried to prepare an analytical fragility curves for isolated straight continues highway bridges by considering different spectral intensity measures. A three-span concrete isolated bridge has been selected and the seismic performance of the bridge has been improved by Lead Rubber Bearing (LRB). Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) is applied to the bridge in longitudinal direction. A suite of 14 earthquake ground motions from medium to sever motions are scaled and used for nonlinear time history analysis. Fragility function considers the relationship of earthquake intensity measures (IM) and probability of exceeding certain Damage State (DS). A full three dimensional finite element model of the isolated bridge has been developed and analyzed. A wide range of different intensity measures are selected and the optimal intensity measure which has the less dispersion is proposed.