Evaluation of bridge support condition using bridge responses

Abstract

This article presents a method for evaluating the support condition of bridges. This is done by representing the aging and deteriorated supports as rotation springs with equivalent spring constants. Sensitivity analysis was performed to obtain a relationship between the spring constant and the bridge responses (deflections/slopes). From this relationship, measured bridge responses can be used to estimate the equivalent spring constants through interpolation. Numerical analysis was performed to check whether the method can be used to calculate equivalent spring constants. Then, the method was verified by performing laboratory tests on a scale model bridge and field test on an actual bridge. In both tests, spring constants were estimated using the proposed method and then verified by calculating the displacements and frequencies and comparing them to the measured values.