Title: Establishing Baseline Performance of a Segmental-Concrete Cable-Stayed Bridge

Author(s): Michael J. Chajes, Harry W. Shenton III, Hadi T. Al-Khateeb, and Christos Aloupis

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 340

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 54-72

Keywords: load test; structural health monitoring; baseline performance; cable-stayed bridge

DOI: 10.14359/51725806

Date: 4/1/2020

Abstract:
The maintenance and management of segmental-concrete cable-stayed bridges represents a major investment of human and financial capital. One possible approach to reducing this cost while simultaneously improving the process, is by using structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), working collaboratively with the University of Delaware (UD) Center for Innovative Bridge Engineering, installed a comprehensive SHM system on the 1,749 ft (533 m) long Indian River Inlet Bridge (IRIB) during construction. The SHM system is fiber-optic based with more than 120 sensors of varying type distributed throughout the bridge. Within the first year of service, a series of three controlled diagnostic load tests were conducted utilizing the installed SHM system. The test results have been used to establish a standard set of truck passes for future tests, and the recorded response has been used to establish a baseline against which future test results can be compared. These comparisons will yield a quantitative measure of how the bridge is performing, and in combination with the more qualitative biennial inspections, will enable DelDOT to better manage this critical infrastructure asset.