Field Test of a Shear Force Measurement Technique Using Fiber Optic Sensing under Variable Speed Truck Loading

The measurement of reaction forces at bridge bearings would enable engineers tasked with maintaining bridges to detect potential damage to the bearing and bridge by detecting changes in the load distribution at the supports with time. Currently, measuring the load in the bearing requires sensors built into the bearing, which means that they are hard to repair when damaged and cannot be installed after the bridge is built (unless the bearings are replaced). A potential alternative is the use of distributed fiber optic sensors (DFOS) that could be used to measure curvature in the beams of a bridge, which can then be used to calculate the moment, shear, and ultimately reaction force due to live loading. To investigate this, a DFOS system was installed on a newly built steel girder bridge on a single beam near one of the piers. A series of load tests were undertaken using a truck with a known load and driving along the bridge directly over the instrumented beam at speeds ranging from pseudo-static up to 30 km/h. The maximum measured strain in the bridge beam was 15 microstrain, which was lower than can be measured with certain DFOS systems, and highlighted the need to select a system with appropriate accuracy and precision. The measured strains were used to calculate the beam shear at the pier as the truck moved across the bridge. These results were compared with a continuous beam and two grillage analyses, and it was found that, based on the continuous beam model, about 25% of the total truck load was being carried by the beam, which was lower than the code live load distribution factor suggested. The grillage models provided better estimates of load spreading but were still conservative and dependent on the choice of transverse stiffness. (C) 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Automated summary

Measuring reaction forces at bridge bearings is crucial for detecting damage and maintaining bridges. Distributed fiber optic sensors (DFOS) can be used to measure curvature in bridge beams and calculate the moment, shear, and reaction force due to live loading. The study highlights the importance of selecting a DFOS system with appropriate accuracy and precision.