Damage assessment of a bridge based on mode shapes estimated by responses of passing vehicles

Abstract

In this study, an indirect approach is developed for assessing the state of a bridge on the basis of mode shapes estimated by the responses of passing vehicles. Two types of damages, i.e., immobilization of a support and decrease in beam stiffness at the center, are evaluated with varying degrees of road roughness and measurement noise. The assessment theory's feasibility is verified through numerical simulations of interactive vibration between a two-dimensional beam and passing vehicles modeled simply as sprung mass. It is determined that the damage state can be recognized by the estimated mode shapes when the beam incurs severe damage, such as immobilization of rotational support, and the responses contain no noise. However, the developed theory has low robustness against noise. Therefore, numerous measurements are needed for damage identification when the measurement is contaminated with noise.