Evaluation of arch bridges using Finite element model updating

Abstract The arch bridge at the Islamic University of Riau is the main transportation access to the Faculty of Communication Sciences. Initially, the bridge was designed with a 16-meter span, but it’s currently only 13 meters long due to unexpected changes. Additionally, the bridge’s placement has shifted, affecting its load distribution and foundation due to soil accumulation. This study aims to evaluate the arch bridge’s Finite element (FE) model after updating it. To achieve this, Structural health monitoring systems (SHMS) will be used to assess the structural elements’ durability. One method being utilized is Finite element model updating (FEMU), which aims to improve the accuracy of the model by comparing field measurement data with numerical simulation results. The data obtained from the G-Link 200 USB accelerometer is processed using the ARTeMIS, FEMtools, and MATLAB programs to display the structural modal parameters. The results and discussions of this study indicate that the updated parameters mainly relate to the elastic modulus of the bridge structure. It’s concluded that the updated model, based on natural frequency and mode shape, illustrates that the bridge is still capable of operating normally. This is evidenced by a difference of 0.5885 Hz between the actual and theoretical frequency, indicating that the bridge has not diminished in its capacity.