Physical Nonlinear Model Adaptation in Long-Term Structural Health Monitoring: Proposals of Experimental Studies on a Reinforced Concrete Beam

In this paper a model adaptation approach for concrete bridge superstructures is presented. The approach aims at identifying structural characteristics during long-term structural health monitoring,

i.e. when the bridge is open for traffic and weights and locations of passing vehicles are unknown. Thus, system and load properties of the structure have to be determined at the same time. To verify the approach, proposals of experiments on a reinforced concrete beam are presented. The proposed specimen is a single span beam loaded by 2 single forces. During load application structural responses (strains, deflections and reaction forces) are recorded. In the progress of the experiments, damage is induced in the longitudinal reinforcement by cutting reinforcement bars. Based on the recorded responses, numerical models are adapted. Goal of the adaptation is the localization of the induced damage, the quantification of its extent and the determination of magnitude and location of the respective single force. Prior to the tests on the specimen, the experiments are numerically simulated by carrying out physical nonlinear finite element analysis. Based on the simulations, test runs of the model adaptation process had been performed.