Monitoring cracks and prestress-loss in PSC girder bridges using vibration-based damage detection techniques

In this study, a vibration-based method to simultaneously predict prestress-loss and flexural crack in PSC girder bridges is presented. Prestress-loss and flexural crack are two typical, but quite different in nature, types of damage which can be occurred in PSC girder bridges. The following approaches are implemented to achieve the objective. Firstly, two vibration-based damage detection techniques which can predict prestress-loss and flexural crack are described. The techniques are prestress-loss prediction model and mode-shape-based crack detection method. In order to verify the feasibility and practicality of the techniques, two different lab tests are performed. A free-free beam with external unbonded tendons is used to verify the feasibility of the prestress-loss prediction model. In additional, a PSC girder with an internal unbonded tendon is used to evaluate the practicality of the prestress-loss prediction model and the modeshape-based crack detection method.