• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.223-237
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• 2009

The present research aims to develop a methodology to rapidly assess bridges with damage to the superstructure, caused by overheight trucks or lower-than-average overhead clearance. Terrestrial laser scanning and image processing techniques are combined with the finite element method to arrive at an analytical model which is more accurate, with respect to the complex geometrical aspects of the bridge in its damaged configuration. ""Virtual load testing"" may subsequently be carried out on this analytical model to determine the reserve capacity of the structure in an objective manner.