An optimal sensor placement procedure for the static and dynamic monitoring of cable‐stayed bridges

Abstract This paper proposes a novel approach for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of cable‐stayed bridges that utilizes load cell recordings for both static tension monitoring and vibration‐based assessment. By capturing high‐frequency force fluctuations, load cells enable Ambient Vibration Testing (AVT), which supports the identification of bridge dynamic properties through Operational Modal Analysis (OMA). This dual‐purpose use of load cells offers a cost‐effective alternative to conventional systems, reducing the number of required sensors and associated data management efforts. A key challenge addressed is the Optimal Sensor Placement (OSP) of load cells to ensure monitoring efficiency while minimizing cost and data overload. To this end, the paper introduces a new OSP algorithm tailored to identify the most informative stays for monitoring. The methodology is validated through a real‐world case study involving a cable‐stayed bridge with 40 stay cables, where only 8 were instrumented. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in capturing both static and dynamic structural behaviours, underscoring its potential for advanced, force‐based SHM in cable‐stayed bridges.