Correlated GNSS and temperature measurements at 10-minute intervals on the Severn Suspension Bridge

G W Roberts,C J Brown,X Tang

doi:10.1007/s12518-017-0187-x

G W Roberts, C J Brown + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12518-017-0187-x

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Journal: Applied Geomatics	Publication Date: Apr 26, 2017
Citations: 7	License type: open-access

Affiliation: University of Nottingham Ningbo China

Abstract

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data were gathered on the 998-m-long Severn Suspension Bridge main span. The antennas were located on the tops of the four support towers, as well as five locations on the suspension cables; data were gathered at rates of 10 and 20 Hz. In addition, air and steel temperatures were gathered every 10 min. The GNSS data were processed in an On The Fly manner relative to a reference receiver located on a fixed position adjacent to the Bridge, and the resulting dataset was compared to the air and steel temperature data measurements, and correlations reported. Moving average filters that eliminate short-term movements due to wind loading and traffic loading were applied to the GNSS data, resulting in the longer-term deflections due to temperature changes every 10 min. The temperature over the 3 days varied by up to 10 °C, and movements of the order of decimetres were seen. Clear numerical correlations between the changes in temperature and the changes in height are presented when analysed at these 10-min intervals, suggesting that temperature compensation in structural health monitoring systems could be readily applied, resulting in a sustainable structure.

Highlights

Structural health monitoring (SHM) of structures, and in particular long-span bridges, is becoming an important topic
In December 2015, fractures were identified in the truss and links on the Forth Road Bridge in Scotland. This led to 12 weeks of disruption to traffic flow, which included the unprecedented closure of the Bridge to all traffic and pedestrians for a period of 4 weeks. This was classed as an event of national significance by the Scottish Parliament, as over 100,000 people use the Bridge every day (Shackman and Climie 2016)
The total station approach has the disadvantage of limited range from the stable land to the survey station upon the bridge. Such Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements result in data that includes all the characteristic movements of the bridge

Summary

Introduction

Structural health monitoring (SHM) of structures, and in particular long-span bridges, is becoming an important topic. These results illustrate that a bridge, such as the Humber Bridge, with a main span length of 1410 m experiences deflections of the order of decimetres when the air temperature changes by a few degrees.

Results

Conclusion