Strain and Acceleration-Based Finite Element Model Updating of a Concrete Highway Viaduct

Abstract

This paper presents a finite element model updating (FEMU) study performed on a single span of a multi-span concrete highway viaduct, equipped with permanent monitoring and a bridge weigh-in-motion (B-WIM) system. The paper focuses on the comparison of updated variables from two different types of measurements: (1) longitudinal strains, induced by calibration vehicles and measured by sensors primarily used for B-WIM, and (2) natural frequencies of the superstructure, that were obtained from ambient and traffic-induced vibrations. In addition, the contribution of the concrete safety barriers to the superstructure stiffness is discussed.