Bridge performance indicators based on traffic load monitoring

Abstract

The assessment of the existing road bridges as a part of bridge management networks has been a subject of several European research projects and actions in the last few decades. Bridge management includes a series of activities, interconnected in order to achieve optimal balancing of required costs, potential risks and overall bridge performance. This paper discusses a valuable link between a specific indicator (traffic load information calculated using Bridge Weigh-in-Motion measurement data) and the corresponding structural performance (reliability of existing bridge). It is shown that implementation of weigh-in-motion measurements in the probabilistic assessment of existing road bridges can reveal hidden bridge reserves and predict bridge reliability development over the required lifetime. Consequently, such approach can yield an unrestricted use of the bridge over a much longer remaining service life. Broader advantages lie in an improved road network management, road bridges in particular, and in a more sustainable development of infrastructure network and greater satisfaction of road users and owners.

Keywords:

• Road bridges
• performance indicators
• probabilistic assessment
• traffic load monitoring
• B-WIM
• reliability analysis

Acknowledgments

This paper is based on the work carried out in the scope of the COST Action TU 1406 – Quality specifications for roadway bridges, standardization at a European level and COST Action TU 1402 – Quantifying the Value of Structural Health Monitoring, both supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) and on results of the Croatian national project Performance indicators for assessment of existing bridges.