Determination of resistant capacity of post-tensioned beam-slab concrete bridges using ambient vibration testing: A case study of El Ramo bridge

Abstract

To monitor the structural health of a bridge over its lifetime is necessary to have numerical models to, based on changes in the structural response of it, detect possible damage. For this reason and to deepen the understanding of the structural behavior of bridges on local roads of the Department of Santander, the research group in materials and structures -INME - UIS, takes a series of post-tensioned concrete bridges that were to be flooded by the impounding of the reservoir of Hidrosogamoso, becoming a full-scale laboratory. Among these is El Ramo bridge, which is a bridge beam and slab type, comprising a pair of post-tensioned concrete beams simply supported 31 meters. This bridge was made, firstly statical tests to characterize its deformation and others ambient vibration tests to identify its dynamic properties. These data were used as a calibration tool the respective numerical model, which served to evaluate the resistant capacity of the same, according to the criteria set by the Colombian norm existing bridges (CCP-2014).

Keywords

• post-tensioned concrete
• ambient vibration tests
• dynamic properties
• resistant capacity