Health monitoring and comparative analysis of time-dependent effect using different prediction models for self-anchored suspension bridge with extra-wide concrete girder

Abstract

The structural health status of Hunan Road Bridge during its two-year service period from April 2015 to April 2017 was studied based on monitored data. The Hunan Road Bridge is the widest concrete self-anchored suspension bridge in China at present. Its structural changes and safety were evaluated using the health monitoring data, which included deformations, detailed stresses, and vibration characteristics. The influences of the single and dual effects comprising the ambient temperature changes and concrete shrinkage and creep (S&C) were analyzed based on the measured data. The ANSYS beam finite element model was established and validated by the measured bridge completion state. The comparative analyses of the prediction results of long-term concrete S&C effects were conducted using CEB-FIP 90 and B3 prediction models. The age-adjusted effective modulus method was adopted to simulate the aging behavior of concrete. Prestress relaxation was considered in the stepwise calculation. The results show that the transverse deviations of the towers are noteworthy. The spatial effect of the extra-wide girder is significant, as the compressive stress variations at the girder were uneven along the transverse direction. General increase and decrease in the girder compressive stresses were caused by seasonal ambient warming and cooling, respectively. The temperature gradient effects in the main girder were significant. Comparisons with the measured data showed that more accurate prediction results were obtained with the B3 prediction model, which can consider the concrete material parameters, than with the CEB-FIP 90 model. Significant deflection of the midspan girder in the middle region will be caused by the deviations of the cable anchoring positions at the girder ends and tower tops toward the midspan due to concrete S&C. The increase in the compressive stresses at the top plate and decrease in the stresses at the bottom plate at the middle midspan will be significant. The pre-deviations of the towers toward the sidespan and pre-lift of the midspan girder can reduce the adverse influences of concrete S&C on the structural health of the self-anchored suspension bridge with extra-wide concrete girder.