Monitoring and system identification of suspension bridges: An alternative approach

Abstract

This paper introduces a new approach for monitoring and system identification of suspension bridges. The methodology is based on the theoretical formulation of the dynamic response of a suspension bridge and its components. The vibration records are used to identify the boundary conditions and the unknown coefficients in the equations. The goal is to identify the forces in the main components of the bridge, rather than its modal properties. By proper placement of right-type of sensors, it is possible to identify the time-varying forces on the main suspension cables, hangers, towers, and the deck from the records.