20 research outputs found
Operational modal analysis and continuous dynamic monitoring of footbridges
Tese de doutoramento. Engenharia Civil. Universidade do Porto. Faculdade de Engenharia. 201
Proceedings of the 9th fib International PhD Symposium in Civil Engineering : Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 22 - 25 July 2012, Karlsruhe, Germany
The fib International PhD Symposium in Civil Engineering is an established event in the academic calendar of doctoral students. It is held under the patronage of the International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib), one of the main international associations that disseminates knowledge about concrete and concrete structures. The 9th fib International PhD Symposium was held at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, from July 22 to 25, 2012
Determination of the main parameters affecting the performance of bridge falsework systems
Bridge falsework systems are one of the most common temporary structures used in the
construction industry, namely to support the formwork during the construction, rehabilitation or
retrofit works of concrete bridges and viaducts.
This Thesis presents new results and research that improve the available knowledge about the
structural behaviour, reliability, robustness and risk of these structures. The main, internal and
external, hazards are identified and detailed, including the procedural, enabling and triggering
hazards. The use of reduction factors to determine the values of the applied loads to design bridge
falsework, and other temporary structures, is critically analysed and it is recommended not to use
them, unless supported by specific site data. The importance of implementing effective quality
control, inspection and communication measures to manage human errors during planning,
designing and operation is highlighted.
From the 192 tests carried out during the experimental campaign, consisting of five different
tests using three different joint types, new results are obtained concerning bridge falsework
components, namely the bending behaviour and resistance of spigot joints and forkhead joints
(falsework to formwork interface) from which no published research was found. Existing joint
models are evaluated and improved alternative models are developed.
The results of numerical studies of a selected structural system are presented using a novel joint
finite element and information gathered from the experimental tests. This new finite element has
features that the available elements in ABAQUS® program do not have, specifically the capability of
simulating an analytical modelling of the cyclic behaviour of joints with allowance for stiffness and
resistance degradation and joint failure. The accuracy and precision of the developed numerical
models improves the existing numerical results of full-scale tests of bridge falsework systems, in
respect to structural behaviour and resistance. It is recommended that formwork should be
explicitly modelled and modelling of spigot joints should follow the model presented in this Thesis.
From a sensitivity analysis of the bridge falsework systems to modelling hypothesis, it is found that
the most important joints are the beam-to-column joint, followed by the forkhead joint and the spigot
joint, with variations of up to 70% between the resistance of the system when the joints are modelled
as continuous or as pinned.
A key contribution of the Thesis is to introduce a novel risk management methodology based on
newly developed robustness and fragility indices. This new methodology is applicable, in principle, to all
structural analyses not only those concerning bridge falsework systems. Based on advanced
deterministic studies, the main parameters affecting the performance of bridge falsework are identified,
analysed and discussed. These studies involved a comprehensive set of external and internal hazards:
(i) applied external actions of different nature and (ii) structural configurations to design bridge falsework.
It is found that differential ground settlements are a critical action and that stiffer systems are more
sensitive. Also, it is highlighted by use of plenty examples that bracing is an essential design requirement.
Advanced stochastic investigations are also carried out, in which the key random variables that
control the stochastic behaviour of bridge falsework systems are identified, namely joint looseness
and initial stiffness after looseness. Possible strategies to increase robustness and decrease fragility
are discussed and based on an application example the cost-benefit of alternative solutions is
investigated. It is concluded that implementing quality control and quality assurance procedures to
bridge falsework elements is an extremely effective and efficient way of reducing existing risks.
The information gathered in this Thesis can be used to develop more rational and reliable bridge
falsework structures thus safer and more design efficient
Acoustic and Elastic Waves: Recent Trends in Science and Engineering
The present Special Issue intends to explore new directions in the field of acoustics and ultrasonics. The interest includes, but is not limited to, the use of acoustic technology for condition monitoring of materials and structures. Topics of interest (among others): • Acoustic emission in materials and structures (without material limitation) • Innovative cases of ultrasonic inspection • Wave dispersion and waveguides • Monitoring of innovative materials • Seismic waves • Vibrations, damping and noise control • Combination of mechanical wave techniques with other types for structural health monitoring purposes. Experimental and numerical studies are welcome