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Review Category : Structural Monitoring

Repair, Defer or Do Nothing

Structure Movement Monitoring for Efficient Planning and Decision Making

Symptoms of building movement can develop obviously and suddenly, or more subtly over years or decades. Common symptoms include cracks in walls or floors, racked windows and door frames, and sloping or uneven floors. While each of these symptoms causes concern, not all are equal. Some symptoms could be a sign of structural deterioration in need of immediate repair. In contrast, other symptoms may be a remnant of previous movement that occurred years ago and has since stabilized. In between, a range of conditions exist. Given the range of potential repair actions and related costs, it is essential to identify the cause and an appropriate scope of repair.

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Dec, 2021 By , and In Structural Monitoring Comments 0

Bridge Vibration Monitoring

State of the Art and Future Outlooks

Inspection and condition assessment of bridges requires detailed visual examinations that must be conducted at least biennially. This effort involves deploying crews on-site for an extended period of time, depending on structure-specific needs and bridge typology. At times, gaining access to specific structural elements can be a challenge. Such is the case for the main cables and hangers of suspension bridges and the girders of viaducts and arch structures, which sometimes require special rope access. Thus, it should come as no surprise that inspection expenses are one of the most relevant items in the life-cycle cost of bridges. As a limited budget is available to sustain these costs, and given the increasing inspection needs of the U.S. bridges, the bulk of which are nearing the end of their service life, the need for cost-effective condition assessment techniques has never been more critical. Visual inspections are also imperfect because they are subjective, given that they depend on the inspector’s experience and judgment. When the very stability of the structure is in question, inspections may also pose safety hazards to the inspection crew on site.

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Oct, 2021 By In Structural Monitoring Comments 1
STRUCTURE magazine