Influence of vehicle traffic on modal-based bridge monitoring

Abstract In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in modal-based monitoring systems, especially for bridge structures, to detect damage at an early stage and extend the life existing bridges as well minimize maintenance costs. The modal parameters, natural frequencies mode shapes, depend on stiffness mass structure. For economic application system, estimation parameters based Operational Modal Analysis needs be estimated. uses naturally vibration sources, such wind traffic, estimate parameters. A significant advantage is therefore that do not have closed traffic. this context, are influenced by vehicle traffic due associated temporally spatially variable mass, damping properties overall system. paper, influence those operational loads road roughness parameter numerically investigated. vehicles modeled half-vehicle models. addition, shown using situ measurements bridge. high sensitivity can shown, so they reliable identification contrast, shapes exhibit small amplitude scatter operating if excitation frequency range This very unlikely, under variety designs thus broadband excitation.