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Truck Load Testing and Adjusted Load Rating of Ironton Russell Bridge

Timilsina, Parashmani

Abstract Details

2019, MS, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Civil Engineering.
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is the process of collecting long-term measurements to understand the static and dynamic behavior of a structure long after its construction. SHM can be static based or dynamic vibration based. Static Based SHM is based on the premise that damage will alter the static properties of structures like displacements and rotations. Dynamic vibration based SHM is based on the assumption that damage will alter the dynamic properties of the structure like the structural response, frequencies, mode shapes, damping or modal strain energy change. To observe these phenomena, sensors are placed in various critical locations of the structures. Prediction of these responses is directly correlated to the reliability and effectiveness of the selected network of sensors. This research is focused in Static Based SHM test and concentrates on the methodology for determining and validating the critical locations of the Ironton-Russell Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge in Ironton, OH and Russell, KY. Finite Element modeling method by SAP2000 and MIDAS was implemented to determine load responses used in the design and construction of the bridge while member capacities were calculated using RESPONSE 2000. Upon knowing the capacity of the section and load responses, the rating factors for towers, edge girders, and piers were calculated. As the rating factor is the ratio of capacity to demand, it is used to determine the critical locations in the bridge elements where the data acquisition for the sensor should be placed. Ian R McElhone did this study in 2011 [1], and from his research, the sensors are placed in those critical locations of superstructure, towers, and piers. This research uses those networks of sensors and using finite element models to locate the position of the truck which will induce the most significant positive and negative moment responses. The initial design drawing and the as-built structures are not always matching, and this can cause changes in the rating factors of bridge elements. Due to this difference in the initial design and as-built structure, this research was conducted to understand the effects of this change in load ratings further. Also, from the URS-AECOM, the model of the bridges gets updated in a regular interval of time. This change in the modeling of the bridge changes the stresses and internal forces in the bridge element. After each update of the model, the new rating factor is required to be calculated and compared from the previous one. This thesis’s first major part is to calculate and compare this change. After adjusting as-built rating factors, a truckload test will be conducted to determine the experimental rating factor. This test helps to validate the simulation and adjust the rating factor that is calculated with the simulated data and model in the lab. Superstructure section has the least rating factor compared to towers and piers. Thus, static and moving truckload tests will be conducted to calculate the experimental rating factor along with the rating factor from the model. This test ensures the validity of the model and also the actual performance of the bridge sections subjected to live loads.
Gian Andrea Rassati, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Rachel Chicchi, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Arthur Helmicki, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Victor Hunt, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
359 p.

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Citations

  • Timilsina, P. (2019). Truck Load Testing and Adjusted Load Rating of Ironton Russell Bridge [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1574417628832757

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Timilsina, Parashmani. Truck Load Testing and Adjusted Load Rating of Ironton Russell Bridge. 2019. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1574417628832757.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Timilsina, Parashmani. "Truck Load Testing and Adjusted Load Rating of Ironton Russell Bridge." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1574417628832757

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)