Modal Identification of a Roadway/Railway Bridge Using Customized Accelerometers

Abstract

The International Bridge of Valenca-Tui has great economic and cultural value. Due to its age, it is important to monitor its behaviour in order to evaluate the health condition of the structure in its current stage and to establish an intervention if needed. In this study, an ambient vibration test was performed using 16 customised sensors in order to determine the modal properties of the structure. The collected data was filtered and processed aiming at obtaining the average normalized power spectral densities, with the modes being identified by the peak-picking method. Furthermore, a numerical models of the structure was created so that the results of the test could be verified and further analysis could be performed, namely regarding the effects of corrosion and fatigue on the behaviour of the structure.