Estimation of Dynamic Displacements of a Bridge using FBG Sensors

An algorithm is proposed for estimating dynamic displacements of a bridge by using FBG sensors and by superposing some measurable low modes. Modal displacements are obtained from the beam theory and the generalized coordinates are deduced from the strains measured by FBG sensors. By considering flexural and torsional modes occurred in bridges only as flexural modes of a simply supported beam by separating a bridge into multiple girders or parts, the proposed algorithm can be applied to various types of bridges. Guidelines are provided theoretically for determining the number of modes and the number of strain gages to be used. The proposed algorithm has been examined through simulation studies on various types of bridges, laboratory experiments on a model bridge, and field tests on a simple span PC Box girder bridge. Through the simulation study, the effects of the error in the vibration modes and measurement noise on estimating the dynamic displacements are analyzed.