Selective random decrement techniques for bridge monitoring systems

Abstract

Reliable bridge-condition evaluation and early detection of bridge-component failures are critical for bridge owners in the US for better utilization of available resources. Remote bridge monitoring systems (RBMS) have been perceived to assist periodic evaluation of structures to supplement bridge-management systems with quantitative data, and for examining new design techniques. Many RBMS thus far are based on measured bridge vibration. One of the major issues in developing RBMS is lack of reliable methods to obtain modal parameters using traffic excitation. This paper addresses one such signal processing method and discusses the results obtained using data measured from one of the RBMS installed in New York State bridges. Results indicate that it is necessary to find the natural modes, which are most insensitive to environmental parameter variations, for structural monitoring and damage detection.