Structural Monitoring Solutions for Bridge Load Rating - Construction & Construction Materials
Bridge Load Rating with SenSpot as test tool (using truck tests) - Obtaining Strain Responses with Resensys Wireless Strain SenSpot Sensors. Having accurate and up to date Inventory and Operating Ratings is vital for meeting inspection and reporting requirements and ensuring that the correct bridge postings are achieved. They also allow infrastructure owners to make informed asset management decisions with regard to overall traffic pattern management, asset rehabilitation / reinforcement to meet current or changing demands over time, and ensure that bridges can be safely operated and utilized.
DOTs, Authorities and other asset owners spend significant resources in validating and refining their load rating models and ensuring compliance with rule changes that could require re-rating of bridges based on updated truck requirements.
Resensys proposes reliable and breakthrough wireless system and devices for bridge load rating.
The Resensys offers well-suited way by wireless solution and sensors for accurate bridge load rating and obtaining strain measurements with a wide variety of cost-effective benefits:
- Wireless Strain Gauges: No wiring, minimal lane closure for installation
- Sensors with 10+ Years Battery Life: No need for battery replacement, maintenance or calibration in the field
- Easy Installation: Self-adhesive (e.g., steel) or Flange-mount (e.g., concrete)
- Quick Testing: Can be installed for short-term testing (load rating), easy to remove and reuse on other structures
- Long-term monitoring: Designed to be used for long-term monitoring (e.g., several years).
- Small Size and Lightweight
- Being Suitable for Different Kind of Materials: Can be used on steel,concrete, timber, and composites
- Rugged, Weather Proof and Corrosion Resistant: Can operate in rain, snow, ice, high humidity, salty environment and extreme weather (-40°C to +65°C or -40°F to +150°F).
- Infrastructure Less: Battery operated; energyself-sufficient; no need for communication infrastructure at the bridge
- Provide Data Visualization and Data Analysis
- Very High Precision for Wireless Strain Gauge SenSpot™: 1 micro strain
This system reduces installation cost and time for owners/authorities to get the accurate data they need for load rating. A unique capability of Resensys Wireless Strain Gauge SenSpot™ sensor is to measure at high sampling rate and resolution, while providing ultra-low power usage.
A breakthrough method steps for fast and accurate bridge load rating are:
- Attach adhesive mount wireless strain SenSpots™ to critical members (e.g., beams, girders, truss members, gussets);
- Drive truck with known weight (steer axle, drive tandem axle and gross weight) over the bridge;
- Calculate load carrying capacity using the responses of the members.
A typical Resensys system for Bridge Load Rating includes the following components:
- Wireless Strain Gauge SenSpot™: are attached on critical elements as determined by inspection, finite element modeling, load rating model or authority’s/client’s suggestion. The number of gauges required per structure is usually dependent upon the design, existing issues on members and load rating needs.
- SeniMax™: is a wireless data logger gateway that is connected to the cellular or satellite networks; it wirelessly collects SenSpotTM data at the site and sends it to a cloud database server (one SeniMax™ can cover as many as 100 SenSpot™ sensors and devices within its wireless communication range).
- SenScope™: software for data analysis and visualization, data export, automated alert management, thermal analysis, and load rating analysis and graphs.
The figure below shows a practical Resensys Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system, which can be used for Bridge Load Rating.
