System identification through nondestructive experimental testing and analysis is essential for reliable structural evaluation. Experimental testing and monitoring of full-scale structures in the field are complicated, time-consuming, and labor intensive. The lack of practical field experimental technology impedes further research and development of bridges. This issue critically conflicts with public needs to preserve existing bridges and upgrade substandard bridges. Thus, it is imperative to develop a particularly efficient field-testing and monitoring system for identification, condition assessment, and performance evaluation. A study considering system intelligence characterizations conceptualized an effective upgrade. A virtual wireless infrastructure evaluation system was designed and developed. The system is devised for structural field experimentation through static or moving loads, by use of various types of electronic sensors. The system integrates a computer-controlled site network of multiple-channel wireless transmission. A software-based virtual instrumentation program was developed to control the system, collect data, and monitor the results through a user-friendly graphical user interface. Results of successfully testing two bridges in the field under real-world conditions are presented.
Samenvatting