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Ambient vibration testing and structural identification of a cable-stayed bridge

  • Nonlinear Dynamics, Identification and Monitoring of Structures
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Abstract

The paper presents the results of an experimental and theoretical investigation on the Pietratagliata cable-stayed bridge (Udine, Italy). Ambient vibration tests were performed in order to estimate the dynamic characteristics of the lower vibration modes of the bridge. Structural identification is carried out by means of a manual tuning procedure based on finite element models of increasingly accuracy. The analysis allows to improve the description of boundary conditions and mechanical interaction between the bridge components. Results from local dynamic testing are used to estimate the traction on the cables and to assess the integrity of the suspending system of the bridge.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to commemorate the dear friend and colleague Prof. Francesco Benedettini (University of L’Aquila), a great scholar of Structural Dynamics and, specifically, of ambient vibration testing and operational modal analysis methods on bridges. This research was made possible thanks to the interest and the support of the Dipartimento della Protezione Civile of the Friuli Venezia Giulia. The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of Drs. G. Berlasso and C. Garlatti. The collaboration of Prof. Rocco Alaggio and Dr. Daniele Zulli (University of L’Aquila) during dynamic testing is gratefully appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Architettura, Università degli Studi Trieste, piazzale Europa 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy

    Chiara Bedon

  2. Dipartimento Politecnico di Ingegneria e Architettura, Università degli Studi di Udine, via Cotonificio 114, 33100, Udine, Italy

    Michele Dilena & Antonino Morassi

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  1. Chiara Bedon
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  2. Michele Dilena
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  3. Antonino Morassi
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Correspondence to Antonino Morassi.

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Bedon, C., Dilena, M. & Morassi, A. Ambient vibration testing and structural identification of a cable-stayed bridge. Meccanica 51, 2777–2796 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11012-016-0430-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11012-016-0430-2

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