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Vibration based performance assessment of concrete-concrete composite bridges

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-148).

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sibanda, Bongani
Other Authors: Moyo, Pilate
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Civil Engineering 2014
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access_status_str Open Access
author Sibanda, Bongani
author2 Moyo, Pilate
author_browse Moyo, Pilate
Sibanda, Bongani
author_facet Moyo, Pilate
Sibanda, Bongani
author_sort Sibanda, Bongani
collection Thesis
description Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-148).
format Thesis
id oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/8988
institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:51:16.902Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2014
publishDateRange 2014
publishDateSort 2014
publisher Department of Civil Engineering
publisherStr Department of Civil Engineering
record_format dspace
source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/8988 Vibration based performance assessment of concrete-concrete composite bridges Sibanda, Bongani Moyo, Pilate Beushausen, Hans-Dieter Civil Engineering Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-148). Concrete composites consisting of precast pre-stressed standardized beams and a cast in-situ deck slab have been used for the construction of short to medium span bridges for the past four decades in South Africa and worldwide. The pre-cast beams and cast in-situ slab are commonly connected using shear connectors. Failure of these connectors would compromise the composite action of the structure, thus reducing the load carrying capacity and hence its efficiency. This study seeks to assess the integrity of such shear connectors using dynamic testing and Finite Element (FE) analysis. The main objective of the work is to assess the practicality of vibration-based techniques to detect damaged shear connectors using experimental and analytical modal data. A scaled bridge model was constructed and 10 mm bolts connected the beams and slab to simulate shear connectors in the prototype bridge. Different damage scenarios were introduced by loosening some of the connectors and vibration testing was done to detect the artificial damage. An FE model of the system was also developed. The shear connectors were modelled as non-linear spring elements capable of simulating the composite action between the slab and beams. Damage of shear connectors was simulated by reducing the spring stiffness. The updating of the FE model was done manually by adjusting appropriate spring stiffnesses. The experimental and analytical results show that the natural frequencies are sensitive to this damage. The frequencies dropped from undamaged to severe damaged structure. Very little information was deduced from the damping ratios, modal assurance criteria (MAC) and coordinate modal assurance criteria (COMAC) values. The experimental and analytical first bending, torsion and transverse modes were sensitive to the damaged shear connectors. 65% of damaged connectors were located using these modes. Using experimental modal data, the mode curvatures and flexibility changes were able to locate the damaged region when more than 35% of shear connectors were loosened. However, using numerical data, the mode curvatures and flexibility changes were able to localize the damaged region for 6% damage introduced. 75% of the loosened connectors were identified. The stiffness change technique could only identify less than 10% of damaged shear connectors using experimental modal data. The same technique was applied on analytical data and over 75% of damaged shear connectors were located. The FE modelling of shear connectors used in this work was applied on an existing bridge. Van der Kloof bridge (South Africa) was constructed using precast pre-stressed beams and a cast in-situ slab. Extended beam web stirrups were used as shear connectors. The main aim was to develop a robust FE model for this bridge that could be used in future to investigate the condition of shear connectors. Using 6-0 non-linear spring elements to model the shear connectors, a maximum difference of 0.98% was observed between the measured and theoretical frequencies after manual updating. This is quite a small difference. This model could therefore be used as a true representative of the physical structure for future investigations. 2014-10-31T17:54:07Z 2014-10-31T17:54:07Z 2009 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8988 eng application/pdf Department of Civil Engineering Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Civil Engineering
Sibanda, Bongani
Vibration based performance assessment of concrete-concrete composite bridges
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Vibration based performance assessment of concrete-concrete composite bridges
title_full Vibration based performance assessment of concrete-concrete composite bridges
title_fullStr Vibration based performance assessment of concrete-concrete composite bridges
title_full_unstemmed Vibration based performance assessment of concrete-concrete composite bridges
title_short Vibration based performance assessment of concrete-concrete composite bridges
title_sort vibration based performance assessment of concrete concrete composite bridges
topic Civil Engineering
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8988
work_keys_str_mv AT sibandabongani vibrationbasedperformanceassessmentofconcreteconcretecompositebridges