Traffic monitoring using a structural health monitoring system Available to Purchase

The main factors influencing the deterioration of bridges are the environmental conditions and traffic loads. Therefore, a reliable and accurate characterisation of traffic loads can improve the results from bridge rating and health bridge monitoring. In this study a bridge weigh-in-motion algorithm is developed to monitor trains passing on a steel railway bridge. The implemented system estimates the traffic loads, speeds and axle spacings. Other valuable information such as peak and root mean square vertical bridge deck accelerations are also stored. The system takes advantage of two of the strain gauges from a previously deployed sensor network, installed mainly to monitor the strains for fatigue development. In this paper the possibilities and limitation of this system are explored.