Heavy vehicle-based bridge health monitoring system

A method for condition monitoring and maintenance of short and medium span concrete bridges has been developed in Japan. The method is based on the acceleration response of the bridge, measured when a bus or other heavy vehicle is crossing it. The characteristic displacement (deflection) of each bridge-span is calculated based on the acceleration information measured on the bus rear axle. The characteristic displacement is used as a long-term index to be followed. The changes in the index is used to uncover the structural changes in the bridge. The objective of applying the method in Finland was to clarify its suitability for Finland's conditions. From the limited number of crossings, it is not possible to draw advanced conclusions about the suitability of the method for long term monitoring. However, based on the replicability of the characteristic deflections in each crossing, the method seems to be practicable in Finland.