Assessment of Bridge Service Life Using Wireless Sensor Network

Abstract

This paper describes a method for estimating remaining service life of a bridge based on real-time responses of the bridge. Real-time responses were recorded using wireless sensor network. With a significant percentage of nation's bridges being structurally deficient or functionally obsolete and with no quantitative method of health monitoring being used in general practice, it has become the necessity to develop a SHM method, which will provide a quantitative assessment of overall bridge health. This research focuses on estimating overall condition of the bridge analyzing dynamic response rather than focusing on individual damage types, their severity and locations. SHM process in this research uses dynamic responses of a bridge subjected to service loads, collects the response through a system of wireless sensor network, simulates an ideal and practical bridge using finite element model, and then estimates the remaining service life of the bridge based on the modal correlation between the existing and an ideal bridge condition. Results indicate that the bridge under this study has lost approximately 47% of its approximately 50 years of service life in 30 years of service. It was also observed that only higher order modes are more sensitive to damage compared to lower ones. With limited budget available for bridge maintenance and repair, this research can help bridge owners, policy makers, transportation planners or any related professionals or organizations in prioritizing and allocating budgets based on actual bridge condition.