Dynamic Structural Health Monitoring of Confederation Bridge (First 18 Years): Lessons Learned, Challenges and Future Directions

Abstract eng:
The 12.9km long Confederation Bridge connecting Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick in eastern Atlantic Canada is the world’s longest bridge built over ice covered sear water. With 45 main spans of 250m each and a 100-year design life, the design criteria of the Confederation Bridge are not covered by any code or standard in the world. Since the bridge opening in 1997, a comprehensive structural health monitoring system has been collecting data on the response behaviour and performance of the bridge under ambient traffic, wind and earthquake load actions. This paper summarizes the lessons learned, challenges identified and the future directions of the vibration structural health monitoring program. In the early phase of the project, dynamic response data have been used to verify the dynamic properties and design assumptions of the bridge. Subsequently, vibration data are used to provide support for decision making on the efficient operational management and maintenance of the bridge and to help with structural condition assessment. Ambient and strong wind event and traffic induced vibration monitoring data have been used to calibrate and improve the accuracy of the bridge computer models. The variability characteristics of uncertainties in the monitoring data crucial for realistic structural health and condition assessment application of bridges using field monitoring data are evaluated and a first ever data variability or uncertainty model based on actual field data has been developed. Implications of data noise and variability on structural condition assessment of bridges are discussed. An application platform developed for the Confederation Bridge monitoring project for real-time data processing, analysis and visualization is described. Future directions of vibration based structural health monitoring of critical bridges and bridge infrastructure networks are presented.

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