ABSTRACT
A common approach for estimating truck weights is based on structural response data of a bridge, by means of bridge weigh-in-motion methods. Truck weights are measured indirectly, post-processing of the data by means of intelligent algorithms is required. In this work, strain measurements from tendons of historic post-tensioned Gänstor Bridge over the River Danube are analyzed. A new simplified method is proposed depending only on the values of two consecutive alternately signed peaks within the strain signal of a vehicle passage. For comparison purposes, a second method is considered based on influence lines and well established optimization algorithms (Moses algorithm). Both methods are calibrated and verified based on monitoring data of proof loading events with different vehicle types of known parameters. The proposed method is further applied to analyze larger amounts of monitoring data from multiple days allowing evaluation of truck weight distributions of regular road traffic on the bridge.
