VALIDATION OF TRUSS RAILWAY BRIDGE MODEL USING STATIC AND DYNAMIC RESULTS FROM SITE DATA

Abstract

In the modern era the analysis of structures depends on the derivation of accurate models so that those can be used in many applications like damage detection, Health monitoring, structural evaluation, and assessment etc. This rises the importance of Structural Health Monitoring of the structure. An important complement of SHM systems is the development and validation of numerical model to predict the structural behaviour and assess its damage. Railway Bridges are complex in nature whose dynamic behaviour can be analysed using finite element (FE) models. The bridge is modelled in MIDAS and the sections were updated according to the site measurements. Validation of the model by comparing the direct measurements like strains, stress etc for static and dynamic load cases is done for the members of truss bridge by configuring a design train whose axle loads and positions are known. The validation using the modal parameters was done using a 48-hr continuous monitored data in which 59 random trains crossed the bridge. After validating we can assume that the properties like mass, stiffness of the bridge is showing a good representation of what exists on the site.