Dynamic Responses of a Steel Railway Bridge for the Structure's Condition Assessment

Abstract

We investigated dynamic responses of a steel truss railway bridge under damage and intact (no damage) conditions as the train was passing through. The responses were utilized for identifying the damage and establishing acceleration sensor locations. The method applied in this study was intended for monitoring the health of the bridge structure under the train loadings. The bridge investigated in this study is an old steel truss bridge located in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia. Numerical models of the bridge were developed. Then the responses of the bridge in intact and simulated damage conditions were computed under the passing train forces. The bridge responses in the investigated conditions were examined and employed for identifying the damages. In addition using the first five fundamental modes having frequencies below 6.5Hz. the locations of sensors optimally mounted on the structure were determined. Results of the study were promising. They showed that the methods employed in this study enabled to detect the existence of damage took place on the structure and establish the optimal sensor locations.