Simplified screening of vibration serviceability of road bridges at the large scale: a proposal

Abstract Bridge design aims at ensuring safety and serviceability of these structures. A relevant serviceability issue concerns the comfort of bridge users. Vibration serviceability of existing bridges, designed according to outdated codes of practice, can be jeopardized by insufficient consideration of this aspect, very slender structure, and increased traffic loads. Thus, a fast‐testing approach to check vibration serviceability of operational bridges can contribute to prevent possible downtime because of a perceived unsafety. The present paper describes the research activities developed in the context of the national research project entitled “Vibration Serviceability Of Road bridges”. The project aims at developing a simplified approach to identify bridges prone to serviceability issues, and at quickly checking the vibration levels by means of a prototype smart car equipped with sensors. The paper describes how a database of bridges and viaducts at the regional scale can be easily obtained from geographic internet services. Basic data useful for a preliminary screening of the bridge stock with respect to possible vibration serviceability issues are collected, and a simplified verification approach is proposed based on the estimated static deflection under traffic loads and frequency of the fundamental vertical bending mode of the bridge. Finally, the paper illustrates the experimental characterization of the dynamic response of the smart car, discussing its significance for the applications.