Large-amplitude stay-cable vibrations are a major concern to bridge owners; if left unchecked, the serviceability of these bridges can be seriously affected. The Texas Department of Transportation addressed stay-cable vibrations on two bridges in its inventory. A study was made of the vibration mechanisms and their causes through the use of a vibration-monitoring system. Data from this system were used to design a mitigation strategy to eliminate or minimize the effects of vibrations. Efforts are also under way to quantify possible damage to the stay-cable systems of both bridges through full-scale fatigue testing. To aid with damage detection, an acoustic monitoring system for detecting possible wire breaks was tested in the laboratory and installed on one of the bridges. These steps are part of ongoing monitoring of the health of cable-stay bridges in Texas.
Samenvatting