Surveillance of continuous precast concrete bridge decks supported by monitoring-based techniques

ABSTRACT: This paper presents the approach proposed for the surveillance of the structural behaviour of the South Approach Viaduct of the Lezíria Bridge, in Portugal, supported by monitoring-based techniques. The work focuses on one of the structure sub-viaducts, which is composed by 13 continuous spans with a span length of 36 m, and is supported by monitoring data recorded since the start of the construction and during the following three years. The main features of the surveillance system are a calibrated non-linear finite element model and a statistical model that establishes the normal correlation between environmental characteristics and material parameters with concrete strains and movements of expansion joints.