Measurement of the flow of force in a skewed masonry arch bridge using fibre optic sensing


Type
Conference Object
Change log
Authors
Alexakis, H 
DeJong, MJ 
Abstract

Skewed masonry arch bridges form an important part of the rail and road infrastructure networks in the UK, as well as other European countries. However, the precise flow of forces in these structures is not well understood, which can pose a problem when it comes to assessment and maintenance. The skewed masonry arch railway bridge considered in this study has suffered significant historic damage, which led to a pronounced response under live loads and prompted extensive repair work. Subsequently, a network of fibre-optic Fibre Bragg Grating sensors was installed on the arch barrel of the repaired bridge. In this paper, the monitoring method is outlined, and the detailed measurement of the dynamic response under train loading is presented. Results quantify both the principal directions of strain and the strain magnitude in a skewed arch barrel during the passage of a train. Thus, the monitoring data provide rare insight into the structural response of skewed masonry arch bridges.

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Keywords
Journal Title
9th International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure: Transferring Research into Practice, SHMII 2019 - Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
9th International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure (SHMII-9), St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
1
Publisher
Rights
All rights reserved
Sponsorship
EPSRC (1730520)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N021614/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K000314/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L010917/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/I019308/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P013848/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/M506485/1)
This work forms part of a PhD, which is funded by an EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (Grant Number EP/M506485/1). The monitoring project described in this paper was a collaboration between the Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC), AECOM, and Network Rail. Network Rail provided funding and access to enable monitoring. CSIC is an Innovation Knowledge Centre funded by EPSRC and Innovate UK. This project benefited from CSIC's facilities and technician support, which are funded through a number of grants including EPSRC grants EP/I019308/1, EP/K000314/1, EP/L010917/1, EP/N021614/1, and EP/P013848/1.