Heavy Movable Structure Health Monitoring: A Case Study With A Movable Bridge In Florida

Abstract

A large number of movable bridges exist in Florida. These movable bridges are at critical intersection points of highway and marine traffic. Since these structures are composed of structural, mechanical and electrical components, encountered maintenance problems are different in nature and are observed more frequently. Therefore, movable bridge rehabilitation and maintenance costs are considerably higher than those of fixed bridges. The main issues are the deterioration due to their proximity to waterways, mechanical system failures, and fatigue due to the stress fluctuations during the operation. To improve their maintenance and predict possible problems ahead of time, continuous monitoring of these structures can be considered as a promising approach. In this study, the authors first discuss the problems and monitoring needs of such bridges. In the second part, design of the sensor network, data acquisition setup and data analysis methodologies are reviewed. Then, the field implementation and related challenges are described for a particular bridge. Finally, preliminary sample results from the analysis of the field data are discussed from safety, operation and maintenance point of view. © 2010 American Society of Civil Engineers