Model calibration of the Indian River Inlet Bridge using structural health monitoring strain data
Date
2018
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Structural health monitoring (SHM) of civil engineering structures has many benefits in monitoring and maintenance and has become increasingly prevalent due to the deteriorating condition of today’s infrastructure. In order to gain the full potential of the data obtained through SHM a finite element structural model can be calibrated with the measured data to create a model that more accurately represents the as-built structure. Manual calibrations have been performed for a long time; however, this is a very time-intensive process. A method to perform automated calibrations is necessary in the civil engineering field to keep up with volume of data obtained through SHM systems. Recognizing this need for automated structural model calibrations with large SHM data sets, Bentley Systems, Inc. has developed a prototype software calibration tool. This research focuses on the calibration of the Indian River Inlet Bridge’s finite element model with strain data using Bentley Systems’ calibration tool. The calibration tool had yet to be tested on a complex bridge structure using strain data, which was the driving force for the collaboration between University of Delaware and Bentley Systems, Inc. on this research. ☐ A 3D STAAD.Pro model of the Indian River Inlet Bridge was used in the study. The parameter that was optimized through the calibrations was the elastic modulus of the edge girders; the input response was SHM strain data from controlled load tests. Due to the variability of concrete along the length of the bridge, the elastic modulus is not constant along the length. Through various calibrations the optimized model of the IRIB showed good results when compared to the SHM strain response and the concrete edge girder 56-day compressive strength tests. The calibrated model proves to be a close representation of the as-built structure and was validated using different loading configurations. The calibrated model had a 67% improvement relative to the design model in matching the measured strain response from the controlled load tests and an average compressive strength 11% greater than the 56-day compressive strength tests.
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Keywords
Applied sciences, Bridge, Calibration, Strain, Structural health monitoring