Prediction of fatigue crack growth in steel bridge components using acoustic emission

The correlation of acoustic emission (AE) signal characteristics with crack growth behavior is of paramount importance to structural health monitoring and prognosis for in-service steel bridges. Relationships between AE absolute energy rate and crack growth rate are developed and presented. The relationships are based on experimental investigations intended to represent conditions found for in-service steel bridges. The approach presented is independent of the stress intensity range, which may simplify the life prediction procedure because stress intensity range is not always well defined in actual bridge components. Fatigue tests were performed to detect AE signals from fatigue cracks using compact tension (CT) specimens made of ASTM A572G50. Noise induced AE signals were filtered through a combined approach involving Swansong II Filters and investigation of waveforms, which are appropriate for data filtering and interpretation of field tests. Based on the experimental data and presented model, procedures for predicting crack extension and remaining fatigue life were carried out. Agreement between the predicted cracks and actual cracks verified the presented model and procedure. The study indicates that AE absolute energy rate may be more suitable than count rate in fatigue life prediction for the material of interest.     

考虑钢材锈蚀的桥梁焊接节点概率疲劳寿命评估

由于循环外荷载和腐蚀性环境的共同作用,近海桥梁结构易受疲劳破坏.本文提出了一种考虑钢材锈蚀的桥梁结构改进疲劳可靠度评估模型,并基于青马大桥长期结构健康监测数据对其典型焊接节点的概率疲劳寿命进行了评估.通过建立有效截面衰减模型和材料疲劳性能退化函数,利用Miner损伤累积准则的连续概率函数表达式,提出了考虑钢材锈蚀的疲劳可靠度解析模型.同时考虑交通载荷(包括汽车载荷和火车载荷)和台风影响,通过统计分析长期应变监测数据建立了标准日应力谱.采用有限混合分布方法及基于遗传算法的混合参数估计算法,得到了标准日应力谱多模态有限混合分布函数.比较分析了考虑和未考虑钢材锈蚀的焊接节点疲劳寿命失效概率和可靠度指标,研究结果表明钢材锈蚀因素对桥梁焊接节点的疲劳可靠度评估结果有较大影响.     

High-order limit state functions in the response surface method for structural reliability analysis

The stochastic response surface method (SRSM) is a technique for the reliability analysis of complex systems with low failure probabilities, for which Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is too computationally intensive and for which approximate methods are inaccurate. Typically, the SRSM approximates a limit state function with a multi-dimensional quadratic polynomial by fitting the polynomial to a number of sampling points from the limit state function. This method can give biased approximations of the failure probability for cases in which the quadratic response surface can not conform to the true limit state function’s nonlinearities. In contrast to recently proposed algorithms which focus on the positions of sample points to improve the accuracy of the quadratic SRSM, this paper describes the use of higher order polynomials in order to approximate the true limit state more accurately. The use of higher order polynomials has received relatively little attention to date because of problems associated with ill-conditioned systems of equations and an approximated limit state which is very inaccurate outside the domain of the sample points. To address these problems, an algorithm using orthogonal polynomials is proposed to determine the necessary polynomial orders. Four numerical examples compare the proposed algorithm with the conventional quadratic polynomial SRSM and a detailed MCS.     

Fatigue analysis of long-span suspension bridges under multiple loading: Case study

Long-span suspension bridges are often subject to multiple types of dynamic loads, especially those located in wind-prone regions and carrying both trains and road vehicles. Fatigue assessment shall be performed to ensure the safety and functionality of the bridges. This paper proposes a framework for fatigue analysis of a long-span suspension bridge under multiple loading by integrating computer simulation with structural health monitoring system. By taking the Tsing Ma Bridge in Hong Kong as an example, a computationally efficient engineering approach is first proposed for dynamic stress analysis of the bridge under railway, highway and wind loading. The fatigue-critical locations are then determined for key bridge components, and databases of the dynamic stress responses at the critical locations are established. The time histories of dynamic stresses induced by individual loading during the design life of the bridge are generated based on the databases. The corresponding stress time histories due to the combined action of multiple loading are also compiled. Finally, fatigue analysis is performed to compute the cumulative fatigue damage over the design life of 120 years. The results indicate that it is necessary to consider the combined effect of multiple loading in the fatigue analysis of long-span suspension bridges.     

Strengthening of a steel railway bridge and its impact on the dynamic response to passing trains

Two different strengthening methods for a through-girder steel railway bridge are investigated. The studied structure is the Söderström Bridge, located in the city of Stockholm, Sweden. Due to fatigue problems, it is in need of assessment and strengthening. In one of the methods, arches are added under the bridge modifying the structural system and lowering the stress ranges for all structural members. The other method consists of prestressing the floor beams. This increases their stiffness and transforms the mean stress in the lower flanges from tension to compression. A 3D finite element model is created and verified with measurements. The different strengthening methods are tested in the model by dynamic analysis with moving train loads. The strengthening methods show some positive effect concerning the fatigue life. Changes in vertical bridge deck acceleration for high speed traffic are also presented. A comparison between the European code and the Swedish code regarding vertical bridge deck acceleration levels for high speed traffic shows large differences for the bridge.     

Multi-scale damage analysis for a steel box girder of a long-span cable-stayed bridge

Accurate evaluation of the effect of possible damage in critical components on the dynamic characteristics of a structure is of critical importance in developing a robust structural damage identification scheme for a long-span cable-stayed bridge. The strategies of finite element (FE) modelling of a long-span cable-stayed bridge for multi-scale numerical analysis are first investigated. A multi-scale model of the Runyang cable-stayed bridge is then developed, which is essentially a multi-scale combination of a FE model for modal analysis of the entire bridge structure and FE sub-models for local stress analysis of the selected locations with respect to the substructuring method. The developed three-dimensional global-scale and local-scale FE models of Runyang cable-stayed bridge achieve a good correlation with the measured dynamic properties identified from field ambient vibration tests and stress distributions of a steel box girder measured from vehicle loading tests, on the basis of which the effectiveness of some damage location identification methods, including a modal curvature index, a modal strain energy index and a modal flexibility index, are evaluated. The analysis results show that the effect of the simulated damage in various components of the steel box girder on the dynamic characteristics of a long-span cable-stayed bridge should be properly considered in structural damage analyses using multi-scale numerical computation.     

Probabilistic deterioration model of high-strength steel wires and its application to bridge cables

Bridge inspections reveal that severe corrosion and fatigue are the main failure mechanisms of bridge stay cables. This paper presents an empirical modelling of the long-term deterioration process of steel wires in cables with consideration of the simultaneous occurrence of uniform corrosion, pitting corrosion and fatigue induced by a combined action of environmental aggression and cyclic loading. Accelerated corrosion experiments are conducted to determine the different corrosion levels of high-strength steel wires, and time-dependent statistical models are developed to quantify uniform and pitting corrosion depth. Corrosion-fatigue process of steel wires is subsequently simulated using the corrosion models and cyclic stress obtained through cable force monitoring data. The mechanical properties of corroded steel wires, including yield stress, ultimate stress, ultimate strain and modulus of elasticity, are experimentally characterised, and the statistical models are established through regression analysis. Finally, the deterioration models of high-strength steel wires (including crack depth, ratio of broken wires, and remaining strength, among others) is extended to probabilistically assess the time-variant conditions of bridge cables (sectional area loss and remaining capacity). The presented study on the long-term deterioration of bridge cables would provide guidance to future decision-making regarding the maintenance and replacement of bridge cables.     

基于长期实测数据的大跨悬索桥扁平钢箱梁温差特性研究

温度应力是影响大跨桥梁结构全寿命性能的主要因素之一,合理的温度场分布模型是准确计算结构温度应力的基础。基于润扬大桥悬索桥结构健康监测系统的监测数据,详细分析润扬大桥悬索桥扁平钢箱梁为期一年的实测温度结果,得出横截面不同位置温度随时间的变化规律,提出扁平钢箱梁同一横截面上不同测点之间温差的概率分布模型,确定不同横截面具有一定重现期的温差标准值,总结用于温度应力计算的横截面温差模式。分析结果表明:①扁平钢箱梁的温度场具有明显的季节特征;②横截面各个测点之间的正温差和负温差均可以通过Weibull分布函数和正态分布函数的加权和来描述其概率分布;③同一横截面上不同测点之间有不同的温差标准值,但不同截面对应位置的温差标准值十分接近;④扁平钢箱梁顶板存在三种不同的横向温差模式。研究结果可为大跨悬索桥全寿命评估提供参考。     

Stochastic fatigue crack growth in steel structures subject to random loading

Uncertainty in fatigue crack growth under service load conditions arises from the statistical characteristics of crack growth under constant amplitude loading and from random variable amplitude loading. This study generalizes previous stochastic fatigue crack growth models by incorporating a time-dependent noise term described by arbitrary marginal distributions and autocorrelations to model the uncertainty in the crack growth under constant amplitude loading. A computationally efficient approach for handling wide-band random loadings based on the rainflow method of stress cycle identification also is developed. The method is illustrated with a fatigue reliability analysis of a steel miter gate at a lock and dam facility operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers.     

Integrating reliability and structural health monitoring in the fatigue assessment of concrete bridge decks

The overall objective of this article is to demonstrate how the concepts of reliability and structural health monitoring (SHM) can be integrated to create bridge assessment and decision systems. The steel-free concrete bridge deck system was chosen as a specific case study providing tangible focus for the research. The bridge assessment model therefore focused on fatigue cracking issues associated with wheel loads due to heavy truck traffic. The bridge assessment model required five components: a vehicle load model, a fatigue damage accumulation model, a residual strength model, a reliability model and an SHM decision model. Each of these components is discussed within the article with specific reference to previous research on steel-free bridge deck systems. The proposed model is used to develop a decision threshold for monitoring the oldest steel-free bridge deck in service.     

Effects of model updating on the estimation of stochastic seismic response of a concrete-filled steel tubular arch bridge

The objectives of this paper are to integrate the structural health monitoring (SHM) technique with the structural seismic analysis, and to make the SHM technique serve, benefit and promote the structural seismic analysis integrally. Therefore, considering a concrete-filled steel tubular arch bridge structure, the SHM technique is used to calibrate the finite element (FE) model through the model-updating scheme to minimise the structural response differences caused by FE model errors. Effects of model updating on structural seismic responses are investigated using the stochastic vibration analysis approach. It is observed that effects of model updating are significant on structural seismic responses, and these effects may become more evident in structural nonlinear dynamic analysis. Hence, it is of prime importance to calibrate the FE models through the SHM technique for seismic evaluations of some operational critical structures.     

Vibration testing of a steel girder bridge using cabled and wireless sensors

Being able to significantly reduce system installation time and cost, wireless sensing technology has attracted much interest in the structural health monitoring (SHM) community. This paper reports the field application of a wireless sensing system on a 4-span highway bridge located in Wayne, New Jersey in the US. Bridge vibration due to traffic and ambient excitation is measured. To enhance the signal-to-noise ratio, a low-noise high-gain signal conditioning module is developed for the wireless sensing system. Nineteen wireless and nineteen cabled accelerometers are first installed along the sidewalk of two neighboring bridge spans. The performance of the wireless sensing system is compared with the high-precision cabled sensing system. In the next series of testing, 16 wireless accelerometers are installed under the deck of another bridge span, forming a 4 × 4 array. Operating deflection analysis is successfully conducted using the wireless measurement of traffic and ambient vibrations.     

钢桁架桥静力分析及地震荷载响应分析

在有限元分析软件ANSYS环境下,对建立的有限元模型某钢桁架桥的桥体在静力的作用下进行节点的位移分析。同时,在该桥体侧向施加地震谱,分析该结构的地震荷载响应,并得出一些结论。     

Typical diseases of a long-span concrete-filled steel tubular arch bridge and their effects on vehicle-induced dynamic response

A long-span concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) arch bridge suffers severe vehicle-induced dynamic responses during its service life. However, few quantitative studies have been reported on the typical diseases suffered by such bridges and their effects on vehicle-induced dynamic response. Thus, a series of field tests and theoretical analyses were conducted to study the effects of typical diseases on the vehicle-induced dynamic response of a typical CFST arch bridge. The results show that a support void results in a height difference between both sides of the expansion joint, thus increasing the effect of vehicle impact on the main girder and suspenders. The impact factor of the displacement response of the main girder exceeds the design value. The variation of the suspender force is significant, and the diseases are found to have a greater effect on a shorter suspender. The theoretical analysis results also show that the support void causes an obvious longitudinal displacement of the main girder that is almost as large as the vertical displacement. The support void can also cause significant changes in the vehicle-induced acceleration response, particularly when the supports and steel box girder continue to collide with each other under the vehicle load.     

中家湾隧道爆破振动监测与分析

在中家湾隧道爆破施工过程中进行了爆破振动监测,应用基于Matlab的最小二乘法的回归分析得出了K,α值。根据K,α值获得的爆破振动规律估算出爆破振动达到安全振速时的单段最大允许装药量,以确保高压电塔的安全。     

某刚架拱桥病害分析及处治方案研究

对某刚架拱桥病害进行了分析研究,通过理论分析和现场调查,寻找桥梁病害薄弱部位,方案选择结合工程的特点,对不同的桥梁病害,综合采用各种维修加固技术,达到了技术合理、经济合理、方便施工的目的。     

River health assessment in peri-urban landscapes: an application of multivariate analysis to identify the key variables

An array of river health assessment approaches and water quality variables have been suggested in the past for assessing the level of river health. However, the selection of suitable variables to be monitored for the assessment remains ambiguous and often it is not practical to monitor all the suggested variables. In this study, we employ a multivariate data reduction technique, called Factor Analysis (FA), to identify the key river health variables for a peri-urban river system, viz., the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system in New South Wales, Australia. Out of 40 water quality variables included in the analysis, the FA identified nine key variables, under three varifactors (VFs), explaining 50% of the variance in the river water quality. Variables in the first, second and third VFs revealed anaerobic conditions, microbial quality and effects of eutrophication in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. Thus, the present work shows a notable reduction in the number of variables and the application of FA for identification of key variables was found promising. The finding of this study has potential application in designing a cost-effective river health monitoring program by reducing the number of variables to be monitored in a peri-urban situation. It can also assist in partitioning variables according to their unique contribution to the total variance.     

钢丝裂纹扩展估算模型及其在预腐蚀疲劳寿命计算中的应用

为给桥梁缆索高强度钢丝损伤容限分析提供实用的裂纹扩展计算参数,根据钢材相关试验的结果统计了珠光体钢丝门槛值ΔKth和裂纹扩展计算数据,建立适用于不同屈服强度和应力比的钢丝裂纹扩展经验模型。在此基础上,提出基于一维裂纹扩展假定的预腐蚀钢丝疲劳寿命预测方法,并对锈蚀钢丝恒幅和变幅疲劳寿命进行实例分析。结果表明,珠光体钢材的屈服强度和门槛值之间的相关性随着屈服强度和应力比的提高而增强|提出的钢丝裂纹扩展模型和初始裂纹深度假定可较好地模拟腐蚀钢丝恒幅疲劳试验的离散性和疲劳极限性质|腐蚀钢丝变幅疲劳评估结果对门槛值变化较敏感|按保守门槛值的预测寿命显示,轻微均匀锈蚀钢丝若及时采取养护措施,可在桥梁常规检修期内继续使用。     

Theoretical and experimental modal analysis of the Guangzhou New TV Tower

The Guangzhou New TV Tower (GNTVT) in Guangzhou, China, is a supertall tube-in-tube structure with a total height of 600 m. A complicated structural health monitoring (SHM) system consisting of over 800 sensors has been implemented to the GNTVT for both in-construction and in-service real-time monitoring. By making use of this SHM system, the ambient vibration measurement is carried out in a continuous and long-term manner. This paper presents the analytical and experimental modal analysis of the tower and the field ambient vibration measurement at different construction stages and under different excitation conditions, particularly addressing the following issues: (1) a reduced-order FE model for the GNTVT; (2) field vibration measurement and modal parameter identification of the tower under construction and two environmental excitations (typhoon and earthquake); and (3) comparison of results under different excitation events in the time-frequency domain and correlation between natural frequencies and air temperature using linear regression analysis. The experimental dynamic characteristics of the tower can be used to update the finite element of the tower, so that the updated finite element model of the tower can be obtained, which will serve as the baseline model for future health monitoring and damage detection. They can also be used to verify the effectiveness of vibration control devices installed on the tower.     

Interaction between continuous welded rail and long-span steel truss arch bridge of a high-speed railway under seismic action

Track–bridge interaction under the seismic excitation is a dominant factor to the design and operation of railway bridges. A spatial model integrating rails, deck system, stringers, cross beams, suspenders, main trusses, piers and foundations was established in this paper, adopting non-linear springs to simulate the longitudinal resistance between the track and the bridge. The improved Penzien model was utilised to simulate the soil-pile interaction effect and a computer program was developed to generate artificial seismic waves. Comparison of natural vibration characteristics for the track–bridge system with and without considering the track constraint was made. Furthermore, the effects of sensitive parameters were investigated, including the ballast resistance, friction of movable bearings, location of rail expansion joint (REJ), etc. Present study results indicate that the track–bridge interaction enhances the structural integrity and induces relatively higher natural frequencies of the bridge. In general, the response obtained by the ballast resistance specified in the Chinese code is smaller than that by UIC code. Neglecting the friction of movable bearing will lead to over-estimated rail stresses and under-estimated internal forces of some piers in the system. Setting REJ at both beam ends is more efficient to release the seismic stress of the rail on the bridge.