• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.231-246
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• 2017

A recent work by the authors has demonstrated the feasibility of scour evaluation for Kao-Ping-Hsi Cable-Stayed Bridge simply based on ambient vibration measurements. To further attain the goal of scour monitoring, a key challenge comes from the interference of several environmental factors that may also significantly alter the pier frequencies without the change of scour depth. Consequently, this study attempts to investigate the variation in certain modal frequencies of this bridge induced by several environmental factors. Four sets of pier vibration measurements were taken either during the season of plum rains, under regular summer days without rain, or in a period of typhoon. These signals are analyzed with the stochastic subspace identification and empirical mode decomposition techniques. The variations of the identified modal frequencies are then compared with those of the corresponding traffic load, air temperature, and water level. Comparison of the analyzed results elucidates that both the traffic load and the environmental temperature are negatively correlated with the bridge frequencies. However, the traffic load is clearly a more dominant factor to alternate the identified bridge deck frequency than the environmental temperature. The pier modes are also influenced by the passing traffic on the bridge deck, even though with a weaker correlation. In addition, the variation of air temperature follows a similar tendency as that of the passing traffic, but its effect on changing the bridge frequencies is obviously not as significant. As for the effect from the alternation of water level, it is observed that the frequency baselines of the pier modes may positively correlate with the water level during the seasons of plum rains and typhoon.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.115-134
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• 2003

The Ting Kau Bridge in Hong Kong is a cable-stayed bridge comprising two main spans and two side spans. The bridge deck is supported by three towers, an end pier and an abutment. Each of the three towers consists of a single reinforced concrete mast which reduces its section in steps, and it is strengthened by transverse cables and struts in the transverse vertical plane. The bridge deck is supported by four inclined planes of cables emanating from anchorages at the tower tops. In view of the threat from typhoons, the dynamic behaviour of long-span cable-supported bridges in the region is always an important consideration in their design. This paper is devoted to the ambient vibration measurements of the bridge for evaluation of dynamic characteristics including the natural frequencies and mode shapes. It also describes the modelling of the bridge. A few finite element models are developed and calibrated to match with the field data and the results of subsequent structural health monitoring of the bridge.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.19-34
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• 2013

The objective of this paper is to develop on-line system parameter estimation and damage detection technique from the response measurements through using the Recursive Covariance-Driven Stochastic Subspace identification (RSSI-COV) approach. To reduce the effect of noise on the results of identification, discussion on the pre-processing of data using recursive singular spectrum analysis (rSSA) is presented to remove the noise contaminant measurements so as to enhance the stability of data analysis. Through the application of rSSA-SSI-COV to the vibration measurement of bridge during scouring experiment, the ability of the proposed algorithm was proved to be robust to the noise perturbations and offers a very good online tracking capability. The accuracy and robustness offered by rSSA-SSI-COV provides a key to obtain the evidence of imminent bridge settlement and a very stable modal frequency tracking which makes it possible for early warning. The peak values of the identified $1^{st}$ mode shape slope ratio has shown to be a good indicator for damage location, meanwhile, the drastic movements of the peak of $2^{nd}$ mode slope ratio could be used as another feature to indicate imminent pier settlement.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.471-488
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• 2011

The Ting Kau Bridge in Hong Kong is a cable-stayed bridge comprising two main spans and two side spans. The bridge deck is supported by three towers, an end pier and an abutment. Each of the three towers consists of a single reinforced concrete mast strengthened by transverse cables and struts. The bridge deck is supported by four inclined planes of cables emanating from anchorages at the tower tops. In view of the heavy traffic on the bridge, and threats from typhoons and earthquakes originated in areas nearby, the dynamic behaviour of long-span cable-supported bridges in the region is always an important consideration in their design. Baseline finite element models of various levels of sophistication have been built not only to match the bridge geometry and cable forces specified on the as-constructed drawings but also to be calibrated using the vibration measurement data captured by the Wind and Structural Health Monitoring System. This paper further describes the analysis of axle loading data, as well as the generation of random axle loads and simulation of vibrations of the bridge using the finite element models. Various factors affecting the vehicular loading on the bridge will also be examined.