Localization and Quantification of Damage along the Transverse Direction of Bridges Using Bridge Weigh-in-Motion Systems

Bridges, crucial for surface transportation networks, carry continuous vehicle loads in varying weather conditions. Throughout the service life, bridges accumulate damage due to increased traffic, fatigue, harsh environmental conditions, and natural hazards. The accumulation of damage poses a potential fatality risk if not promptly monitored. Therefore, regular safety assessments and immediate post-disaster evaluations have become standard practice. In this context, the bridge weigh-in-motion (B-WIM) system emerges as a promising alternative to traditional bridge health monitoring (BHM) methods. B-WIM utilizes moving vehicle loads to estimate the bridge influence line (BIL), which provides critical structural information for effective BHM. A recent state-of-the-art review highlights ongoing research primarily focused on detecting and localizing damage along the span, rarely along the width, and with limited studies addressing damage quantification. However, localization and quantification of damage across the bridge width are seldom studied. This paper proposes an approach for novel localization of damage across the bridge width and quantification of damage using a relationship between flexural rigidity and deflection influence line (DIL). To achieve this, the concept of bridge influence surface (BIS), a 2D expansion of individual BILs across the bridge’s width, is utilized. Through a brief description of the B-WIM algorithm, this paper introduces the flexural rigidity estimation (FRE) method for damage quantification. In addition, a static-like DIL reconstruction is proposed to enhance robustness under dynamic bridge response. The proposed approach is initially verified with a 2D finite-element (FE) beam model, followed by a detailed simulation study using a full-scale 3D FE model of a real bridge. Results from comprehensive numerical analyses are further verified through experimental investigation on a scaled-down model of the same bridge. The findings demonstrate promising BIS-based damage localization across the width and FRE-based damage severity assessment. These insights contribute to the enhancement of BHM systems and outline potential avenues for future research.