Daniel Cantero

Train–track–bridge modelling and review of parameters

Abstract This study gathers all necessary information to construct a model to calculate the coupled dynamic response of train–track–bridge systems. Each component of the model is presented in detail together with a review of possible sources for the parameter values, including a collection of vehicle models, a variety of track configurations and general railway bridge properties. Descriptions of the most important track irregularity representations are also included. The presented model is implemented in MATLAB and validated against a commercially available finite element package for a range of speeds, paying particular attention to a resonant speed. Finally, the potential of the described model is illustrated with two numerical studies that address interesting aspects of train and bridge dynamic responses. In particular, the effect of the presence of a vehicle on the bridge’s fundamental frequency is studied, as well as the influence of the wavelength of the rail irregularities on the dynamic effects of the bridge and the vehicle.

Highway Bridge Assessment for Dynamic Interaction with Critical Vehicles

10th International Conference on Safety, Reliability and Risk of Structures (ICOSSAR 2009), Osaka, Japan, 13-17 September, 2009

Total Load Effects of Portal Frame Bridges in High-Speed Railway Lines

This paper studies the maximum total load effects of short span portal frame railway bridges when traversed by high-speed trains. It is generally assumed that in single span bridges the maximum stresses, displacements and accelerations occur at the mid-span section. However, this in not necessarily correct and the maximum might be located in a wide area around the mid-span. This study aims to quantify the underestimation of the mid-span assumption when calculating maximum load effects. A numerically validated 2D Vehicle-Bridge Interaction model is used to analyze the stresses, displacements and accelerations that develop during the passage of high-speed trains. These load effects are studied along the full length of the structure and compared to the maximum obtained at the mid-span section. Particular attention is given to the resonant speeds near the operational speeds of high-speed railways. The results show that significantly higher load effects can be expected. The presented study is the preliminary work for deciding on the optimum configuration of empirical field tests.

Drive-by structural health monitoring of railway bridges using train mounted accelerometers

5th ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Computational Methods in Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Crete Island, Greece, 25 - 27 May, 2015

Monitoring of changes in bridge response using Weigh-In-Motion systems

Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) and Bridge Weigh-In-Motion (B-WIM) are systems that allow obtaining the axle weights of road vehicles in motion, at normal traffic speeds. While WIM employs sensors embedded in the road pavement, B-WIM use the strain recordings of a bridge to infer the traversing vehicle axle weights. Both systems have been heavily improved over the past decades, and commercial versions are currently in operation. The two main applications of these systems are: (1) to assess the traffic loading on the infrastructure, and (2) to enforce the maximum weight limits. This paper suggests a novel application of these two systems to identify changes in bridge stiffness. It requires the bridge to be instrumented with a B-WIM system and a WIM system nearby. The principle is to use both systems to evaluate the gross weight of vehicles passing over the bridge and correlate their predictions. Changes in correlation of the predicted axle weights over time will indicate either structural damage or faulty sensor. A finite element model of a coupled vehicle-bridge system with different damage scenarios is used to test the approach numerically. Vehicle mechanical properties and speeds are randomly sampled within a Monte Carlo simulation. Results show how correlation changes as damage increases and how this correlation can be employed as a damage indicator.