Damage Identification in Simply Supported Bridge Based on Rotational-Angle Influence Lines Method

To locate and quantify local damage in a simply supported bridge, in this study, we derived a rotational-angle influence line equation of a simply supported beam model with local damage. Using the diagram multiplication method, we introduce an analytical formula for a novel damage-identification indicator, namely the difference of rotational-angle influence lines-curvature (DRAIL-C). If the initial stiffness of the simply supported beam is known, the analytical formula can be effectively used to determine the extent of damage under certain circumstances. We determined the effectiveness and anti-noise performance of this new damage-identification method using numerical examples of a simply supported beam, a simply supported hollow-slab bridge, and a simply supported truss bridge. The results show that the DRAIL-C is directly proportional to the moving concentrated load and inversely proportional to the distance between the bridge support and the concentrated load and the distance between the damaged truss girder and the angle measuring points. The DRAIL-C indicator is more sensitive to the damage in a steel-truss-bridge bottom chord than it is to the other elements. © 2018, Tianjin University and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.