Validation of Structural Health Monitoring Damage Detection Algorithm
Researcher(s)
Principal investigator: Brent Phares, 515-294-5879, bphares@iastate.edu (project list)
Co-principal investigators:
- Terry Wipf, 515-294-9501, tjwipf@iastate.edu (project list)
Project status
In progress
Start date: 08/15/08
End date: 02/28/10
Sponsor(s)/partner(s)
Sponsor(s):Iowa Department of Transportation
About the research
Research objective: Work completed under a previous contract with the Iowa Highway Research Board involved the structural health monitoring (SHM) of steel bridges. One part of this work was the design and implementation of continuous SHM systems. One system was developed to continuously monitor bridge performance under ambient traffic loads and to detect gradual deterioration and sudden damage--specifically for fracture critical bridges but with likely application to multiple bridge types. The second system was developed specifically with secondary road brides in mind.
The goal of this study is to validate the SHM sysems' damage (and deterioration) detection ability by implementing and installing sacrificial elements on a 3-span highway bridge carrying US 30 over the Skunk River near Ames, Iowa.
The primary objectives include --Demonstration and validation of damage detection capability of the previously developed SHM systems. --Advancement of the state-of-the-art and improvement in Iowa bridge owners' expertise in design, installation, effectiveness of SHM system. --Implementation of the validated SHM systems on other bridges.