TRAFFIC LOAD 'FINGERPRINTING' OF BRIDGES FOR ASSESSMENT PURPOSES

The paper describes a field trial of the use of a simple statistical extrapolation technique for the determination of design load effects in existing bridges. Deflections were measured directly using lasers in the Foyle Bridge, and data were recorded for 155 daily 48-min samples. As only traffic load effects were of interest, wind-induced deflections were removed by Fast Fourier transform analysis and temperature-induced deflections were removed through identification of traffic-free periods. A simple linear regression analysis using probability paper has been employed to determine the parameters which characterise the statistical distribution. The cumulative distribution function was then used to estimate the level of deflection with a 1000-year return period. Empirically derived formulas have been utilised to determine the variability in the 1000- year estimates and to calculate a design deflection which allows for this. (A)

  • Availability:
  • Corporate Authors:

    Institution of Structural Engineers

    11 Upper Belgrave Street
    London,   United Kingdom  SW1X 8BH
  • Authors:
    • O'Brien, E J
    • SLOAN, T D
    • BUTLER, K M
    • KIRKPATRICK, J
  • Publication Date: 1995-10-3

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: References;
  • Pagination: p. 320-4
  • Serial:
    • Structural Engineer
    • Volume: 73
    • Issue Number: 19
    • Publisher: Institution of Structural Engineers
    • ISSN: 1466-5123

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00714440
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
  • Files: ITRD
  • Created Date: Dec 27 1995 12:00AM