Benchmark Studies for Bridge Health Monitoring Using an Improved Modal Strain Energy Method

Insufficient available dynamic characteristics data of real structures during the service and prior to damage is a concern in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) employing Vibration Based Damage Detection (VBDD) techniques. The issue becomes more intense with complexity of the structure. One remedy for this problem is to apply new methodologies to the same structure as the benchmark structure having measured data available at different cases. Hence, the reliability of the proposed approach is typically confirmed in reality for that type of structures. This study aims to examine the application of an improved two-stage Modal Strain Energy (MSE) method to a benchmark bridge available, whereas the MSE method has already been numerically and experimentally verified. For this purpose, a steel truss bridge model is numerically simulated. Different damage scenarios, affected by up to five percent noise are considered and the first five vertical mode shapes are used. The results show that the proposed method is proper for health monitoring of complex bridges and accurately identifies the damage in the bridge model under consideration. The findings of this paper can confidently contribute to academic studies and the bridge industry to realize the genuine condition and behaviour of complex bridges during the damage.