ABSTRACT
This paper presents a series of laboratory experiments on a scaled reinforced concrete bridge deck as well as results of a pilot project on an existing bridge. The ultimate goal is to develop a structural health monitoring system based on evaluation of the dynamic bending stiffness which would be derived from easy to use measurement devices. The experiments are aimed at measuring the deflection for static load, and the dynamic response due to a moving mass, representing a traffic load. The two types of applied sensors are accelerometers and linear variable differential transducer (LVDT). Lab results include dynamic response from un-cracked, partial cracked and fully cracked conditions, which influenced the dynamic stiffness. Changes of stiffness therefor is to be believed to be a parameter for crack conditions. The concept has been applied to an existing bridge to prove its value.
