Calibration of the numerical model of a stone masonry railway bridge based on experimentally identified modal parameters

In the design of railway bridges, it is necessary to be able to predict their dynamic behavior under a moving train load so as to avoid a resonance state from repetitive moving axle forces with uniform intervals. According to design trends, newly developed girder bridges weigh less and have longer spans. Since the dynamic interaction between bridge superstructures and passing trains is one of the critical issues concerning such railway bridges that are designed with greater flexibility, it is very important to evaluate the modal parameters of newly designed PSC girders before carrying out dynamic analyses. In this paper, a full scale incrementally prestressed 25-meter long concrete girder was fabricated as a test specimen and modal testing was performed at every prestressing stage in order to evaluate the modal parameters, including the natural frequency and the modal damping ratio. Young's modulus was also obtained from the global stiffness of the test specimen. During the modal testing, a digitally controlled vibration exciter and an impact hammer were applied in order to obtain precise frequency response functions, and the modal parameters were evaluated at various construction stages. With the availability of reliable properties from the modal experiments, dynamic performance estimation of a PSC girder railway bridge during the passage of a moving train can be carried out.

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Identification of Modal Parameters in a Scale Model for a Railway Bridge

International Journal of Structural Stability and Dynamics ◽

10.1142/s0219455415500595 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (09) ◽

pp. 1550059 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ladislao R. Ticona Melo ◽

Ramon S. Y. R. C. Silva ◽

Tulio N. Bittencourt ◽

Luciano M. Bezerra

Keyword(s):

Natural Frequencies ◽

Numerical Study ◽

Modal Identification ◽

Scale Model ◽

Mode Shapes ◽

Modal Parameters ◽

Subspace Identification ◽

Dynamic Parameters ◽

Railway Bridge ◽

Stochastic Subspace Identification

Obtaining the dynamic parameters of a bridge is essential to validation of the model used in the dynamic analysis of the bridge. In order to implement methodologies for damage detection, many experimental modal identification tests are performed for estimating the modal parameters of structures, including the natural frequencies and mode shapes. This paper presents an experimental and numerical study for finding the modal parameters of an aluminum model built to scale of a real railway bridge. Although, so far no test has been performed on the real railway bridge for comparison with the scale model, this paper seeks to apply the scale model experimental and numerical techniques for obtaining the dynamic parameters of the bridge. The software SAP2000 was used for the numerical analyses and for the experimental aspect, the circle fit and the stochastic subspace identification methods are used. Numerical and experimental results showed good correlation.

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Extracting modal parameters of high-speed railway bridge using the TDD technique

Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing ◽

10.1016/j.ymssp.2009.11.010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 707-720 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Byeong Hwa Kim ◽

Jungwhee Lee ◽

Do Hyung Lee

Keyword(s):

High Speed ◽

Modal Parameters ◽

Railway Bridge ◽

High Speed Railway

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Investigation of Dynamic Response of a Railway Bridge Equipped with a Tailored SHM System

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.569-570.1068 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 569-570 ◽

pp. 1068-1075

Author(s):

Przemysław Kołakowski ◽

Arkadiusz Mroz ◽

Damian Sala ◽

Piotr Pawłowski ◽

Krzysztof Sekuła ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Numerical Model ◽

Health Monitoring ◽

Data Transfer ◽

Structural Condition ◽

Strain Sensors ◽

Railway Bridge ◽

Piezoelectric Strain ◽

Dynamic Excitations ◽

Term Objective

A railway bridge has been the object of investigation in the context of structural health monitoring (SHM). The current work is focused on utilization of experimental data for refining a numerical model of the structure as well as on tests of dynamic excitations using a controlled hydraulic shaker and passing trains. The numerical model has been matched to experimental measurements using experimental modal analysis - classical and operational. The tailored SHM system for monitoring of the bridge consists of 15 piezoelectric strain sensors taking advantage of wireless communication for data transfer. Experimental responses of the bridge collected by the SHM system are confronted with the ones produced by the FE numerical model of the bridge. The long-term objective of the investigation is to elaborate a method for assessment of structural condition and prediction of remaining lifetime of the bridge.

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