The Role of Temperature in Static Bridge Responses: Lessons from a Case Study

Abstract To ensure the long‐term safety, durability, and functionality of bridges, it is essential to account for the impact of thermal variations on their structural behavior. Temperature interferes by causing volumetric expansions and contractions, that when restrained also cause mechanical stresses that can impact the integrity of bridges. Understanding temperature and its effects is crucial, particularly in Structural Health Monitoring, as these influences must be isolated from overall measurements to prevent misinterpretations of a bridge's condition. Modern monitoring systems encompass sensors like thermocouples, fiber optics, and infrared imaging to capture realtime temperature data. Such systems enable the analysis of thermal gradients, long‐term trends, as well as their correlation with mechanical response. This study presents the design and preliminary results of the static monitoring system of a real in operation roadway bridge chosen as a case study. The objective of the monitoring is providing continuous data on temperature‐induced effects, enabling the identification of patterns and anomalies. The bridge is equipped with strain‐gauges, thermocouples, inclinometers, and displacement transducers. Starting from the case study results, different methodologies for monitoring and analyzing thermal responses in bridges are explored by integrating temperature data with structural parameters to assess their correlation.