Field test validation of a railway bridge model by structural dynamic sensitivity analysis

Fatigue life assessment of structures requires test-validated structural dynamic mathematical models. Railway bridges are particularly complex in modelling, as their structural characteristics depend on details of support and fixity among the primary and secondary structure, transoms, and rails. These are in turn affected by particulars of site conditions, traffic loadings, and maintenance history. In this study a field test program on a steel railway bridge in NSW has been made, in which dynamic load, stress, and acceleration responses were recorded under normal traffic loadings. A finite 'element structural sensitivity model of this bridge has been created to permit variations in fixity and support conditions. A variety of passenger and freight train loading histories were constructed for the model, which accurately represent locomotive and wagon axle loadings and spacings, for the passing trains involved in the field test. Transient dynamic structural responses of the bridge were computed, and compared with the experimental transient stress, load, and acceleration histories. By iteratively adjusting the structural model, satisfactory correlation with field test results was achieved. In this paper, details of this field test/mathematical model correlation technique are presented.

• Record URL:
  http://railknowledgebank.com/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MTk4MTRjNDUtNWQ0My00OTBmLTllYWUtZWFjM2U2OTE0ZDY3&rID=Mzk5&sID=MjQ=&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&qcf=MTk4MTRjNDUtNWQ0My00OTBmLTllYWUtZWFjM2U2OTE0ZDY3&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==
• Authors:
  • Sorrenson P
  • West M
• Conference:
  • CORE 2002, Cost Efficient Railways through Engineering, Conference on Railway Engineering, Wollongong, New South Wales, November 10-13, 2002
• Publication Date: 2002

Media Info

• Pagination: 11p. ; PDF
• Monograph Title: Cost efficient railways through engineering: CORE 2002: conference on railway engineering, November 10-13 2002, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge management systems; Fatigue (Mechanics)
• ATRI Terms: Bridge maintenance; Bridge management; Material fatigue
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01532059
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 29 2014 11:53AM