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Image‐based back analysis for tension estimation of suspension bridge hanger cables
Author(s) -
Kim SungWan,
Cheung JinHwan,
Park JaeBong,
Na SungOk
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
structural control and health monitoring
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.587
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1545-2263
pISSN - 1545-2255
DOI - 10.1002/stc.2508
Subject(s) - structural engineering , modal , tension (geology) , suspension (topology) , vibration , modal analysis , bridge (graph theory) , engineering , finite element method , operational modal analysis , acoustics , materials science , mathematics , composite material , physics , medicine , homotopy , pure mathematics , ultimate tensile strength
Summary In suspension bridges, hanger cables are the main load‐supporting members. The tension of the hanger cables of a suspension bridge is a very important parameter for assessing the integrity and safety of the bridge. In general, indirect methods are used to measure the tension of the hanger cables of a suspension bridge in use. A representative indirect method is the vibration method, which extracts modal frequencies from the cables' responses and then measures the cable tension using the cables' geometric conditions and the modal frequencies. In this study, ambient vibration tests were conducted on a suspension bridge in use to verify the validity of the image‐based back analysis method, which can estimate the tension of remote hanger cables using the modal frequencies as a parameter. The tension estimated through back analysis, which was conducted to minimize the difference between the modal frequencies calculated using finite element analysis of the hanger cables and the measured modal frequencies, was compared with that measured using the vibration method. It was confirmed that reliable tension estimation is possible even with low‐order modal frequencies when the image‐based back analysis method is used.