ABSTRACT
The load control of the bridge structure can be an important element of structural health monitoring (SHM). The paper presents the use of smart bridge bearings (SBB) for load monitoring. SBB was developed as an adaptation of Pot Bearings (Confined Elastomeric Bearings) integrated with special force sensors which were used to monitor reaction forces. The force sensor takes advantage of the properties of the encapsulated virtually incompressible elastomer in the cylinder, which is similar to those of a viscoelastic fluid. SBBs are placed instead of all standard bearings on which the monitored span is supported. Monitoring system with SBB has been tested in laboratory and next implemented on a test basis on a plate girder bridge with short span length and with intensive traffic of passenger trains. Numerical analysis were also performed to assess the compliance of the measured time histories of reaction forces with those determined theoretically.
