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update WP3 – Assessment and optimization of combined inspection and monitoring strategies

Vibration-based Monitoring (VBM) is a widely used non-destructive approach for monitoring civil infrastructure. Changes in modal characteristics are used for damage detection and localisation. Within a large experimental campaign conducted within WP3, the effects of corrosion damage on different modal characteristics of reinforced concrete beams are studied using data from a lab setup. The beams are subjected to an accelerated corrosion process up to a target corrosion degree of 15%. Modal tests are conducted at 6 evenly spaced moments in time during the corrosion process to identify different modal characteristics (natural frequencies, displacement mode shapes and strain mode shapes). The natural frequencies of the torsional modes decrease strongly due to longitudinal corrosion cracking of the beam. Local corrosion damage is detected and localised using strain mode shapes of the bending modes.

On May 16th – 17th 2023 a diagnostic load test was executed on a prestressed concrete bridge located in Flanders. The results of this load test will be used to validate the methodologies developed within the lifeMACS project in relation to structural reliability assessment, Bayesian updating based on monitoring information and predictions of the remaining lifetime.