Reinforced concrete upper deck arch bridges are interesting structures from the architectural and structural viewpoint. Indeed, they usually are slender but strong and long-lasting structures able to provide a cost-effective and aesthetically appealing solution to span large distances. Many of those bridges have been designed according to outdated codes and they are close to the end of their lifespan. Thus, enhancing the knowledge about their behavior can contribute to a more accurate structural assessment. Recent recommendations on risk assessment and structural monitoring of existing bridges in Italy emphasize the importance of structural identification for the effective management and maintenance of the national bridge stock. In particular, the Italian Guidelines promote the refinement of numerical models to reduce modeling uncertainties. In this context, Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) provides valuable experimental data to construct representative models of the structural behavior under operational conditions. The present paper focuses on the refinement of a Finite Element (FE) model of a reinforced concrete (r.c.) highway bridge using data obtained from an OMA test. The peculiar structural configuration of the bridge, consisting of a relatively thin and wide vault and an upper collaborative deck, dictates the significance of the application in a structural engineering context. The selected case study is briefly introduced, and execution and results of the OMA test as well as setting of a detailed FE model using Ansys Mechanical ADPL are described afterwards. After having identified the main uncertainties in numerical modeling, model refinement is finally discussed. The main lessons learned from the present application are summarized, remarking the contribution of selected components to the structural stiffness at low amplitude vibrations.
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