Health monitoring of aging cable structures Conference

Mehrabi, AB, Ciolko, AT. (2004). Health monitoring of aging cable structures . 109 10.1061/40558(2001)11

cited authors

  • Mehrabi, AB; Ciolko, AT

authors

abstract

  • Cables and other tension members are used as critical structural components for a variety of structures. Suspended and cable-stayed bridges, guyed towers and suspended roofs are among the structures that have extensively utilized cables. In most of these structures, cables and tension members are very suitable for reliable structural health monitoring and adaptation as surrogate sensors for detecting damage and deterioration. Every damage source (at any location) will induce a unique certain force change pattern in cables. Identifying these patterns through measurements and applying damage detection methods can determine the source(s) of damage(s) and signal the location(s). In this paper, new techniques for measurement of forces in tension elements are introduced. These include both experimental techniques to facilitate a rapid and cost-effective vibration-based measurement, and analytical methodology for accurate interpretation of the measured quantities for tension force calculation. Some examples of force measurement in actual cable structures are presented. The tension forces are calculated based on the measured frequencies taking into account all parameters involved. Local and global damage detection methods tailored for the case of cable supported structures are also discussed. These include a new damage detection method, Precursor Transformation Method (PTM), developed specifically for cable structures. This method can determine damage sources and their relative significance with minimum calculation effort and acceptable accuracies. An emphasis is placed in this paper on a newer generation of bridge structures, i.e., cable-stayed bridges, however, the techniques discussed are mostly applicable to other types of cable supported structures. © 2004 ASCE.

publication date

  • December 1, 2004

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 10

International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 13

volume

  • 109