Seasonal analysis of an 846 long steel box girder bridge using Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) and FE-models

This conference paper was presented at the NASCC: Steel conference organised from the 12th to the 14th of April, 2023, in Charlotte, US. It reflects research from the ASHVIN project (www.ashvin.eu), and it was presented by the Polytechnical University of Catalonia (UPC), one of the ASHVIN partners. 

Abstract

This investigation presents the seasonal analysis of an 846 long steel box girder bridge using Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) and FE-models. The Bridge is both vertically and horizontally curved with a tapered, stiffened steel box girder. The sequential seasonal measurement of the plates using a TLS provides a set of point clouds that can be systematically used to feed advanced inelastic FE analysis. Since the bridge experiences considerable seasonal displacements, the effect of these displacements on the ultimate load capacity of the composite bridge is under study.
In the FE-analysis, comparisons between defining imperfections of the plates as adequately scaled Eigenshapes or, as real measurements, are performed. Different scenarios (seasonal and shape-related) are thus assessed.
In addition, another challenge in this investigation is to digitize realistically and seasonally the “as built” shape of the plates. The definition of the resulting 3D geometry must be versatile enough to be used by different stakeholders (simulation, BIM managers, IoT). The outcome of this pipeline of information covering measurement-FE-analysis and assessment is of great interest to maintenance managers. Understanding the seasonal geometrical configuration of this bridge may represent an accurate starting point for subsequent forecasting of structural engineering scenarios.