Efficient structural model updating and bridge loading capacity evaluation

According to the United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 9.1% of the 614,387 bridges in the USA have been declared structurally deficient. To ensure public safety, bridges are biannually checked for health assessment, and their loading capacity is evaluated. The goal of this work is to develop computer models that can assist bridge owners in quickly evaluating the health and damage conditions of bridges and in evaluating the loading capacity of bridges. These new tools would reduce cost, ensure speedy evaluation, and assist bridge owners in regulating the size, weight, and speed of vehicles that can cross the bridges. Toward this end, novel methodologies are introduced in this work to develop accurate computer models that would realistically resemble real bridges. First, a new methodology is presented to ensure that low cost instrumentation and accurate data collection from real bridges is achieved. The proposed method uses the collected data to develop realistic computer models that resemble real bridges. Second, a new methodology is developed to determine accurate dynamic responses of bridges during transient vibration loading, such as when traffic crosses bridges. Third, a novel methodology is introduced to enhance the new developed methodologies of this work to identify damage parameters of bridges during flood events. Finally, using the three novel methodologies, a realistic computer model of a real bridge is developed and then enhanced with new metrics to evaluate its loading capacity under different traffic conditions.