Dynamic identification of a reinforced concrete damaged bridge

The results of a series of harmonically forced tests carried out on a reinforced concrete single-span bridge subjected to increasing levels of damage are interpreted in this paper. The deck structure of the bridge consists of a slab and three simply supported beams. The damage is represented by a series of notches made on a lateral beam to simulate the effect of incremental concentrated damage. The variation of lower natural frequencies shows an anomalous increase in the transition from one intermediate damage configuration to the next ones. Vibration mode shapes show an appreciable asymmetry in the reference configuration, despite the nominal symmetry of the bridge. A justification of this unexpected dynamic behavior is presented in this paper. The analysis is based on progressive identification of an accurate finite element model of the reference configuration and on reconstruction of damage evolution from natural frequency and vibration mode measurements. Changes in modal curvature of the first two vibration modes evaluated along the main beams are successfully used to identify the location of the damage.

► We interpret dynamic tests on a concrete bridge under increasing levels of damage.
► We give a justification of some unexpected dynamic behavior detected during experiments.
► The analysis is based on FE structural identification procedures using dynamic data.
► Changes in modal curvature of the lower vibration modes are used to localize damage.