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The characterization of traffic effects on a short span railway bridge in Northern Portugal with a new hybrid platform that allows the simultaneous assessment of signals generated by a sensing network composed of both electrical and fiber Bragg grating-based sensors was demonstrated. A commercial fiber-optic-based train characterization system using a bridge weight-in-motion algorithm was also developed and tested. By using only three fiber Bragg grating sensors the system allows on-motion determination of train speed and weight distribution.

The characterization of traffic effects on a short span railway bridge in Northern Portugal with a new hybrid platform that allows the simultaneous assessment of signals generated by a sensing network composed of both electrical and fibre Bragg grating based sensors was demonstrated. A Bridge Weight-in-Motion algorithm was also developed, which allows on-motion determination of train speed and weight distribution with only three fibre Bragg grating sensors.

Composite slabs and beams are widely used in the construction market. The fire design is often required, which demands an assessment of materials' resistances at elevated temperature. The main topic of this article is to evaluate the impact of the temperature distribution in the concrete flange for the fire design of composite beams and slabs. The analytical design methodology proposed by Eurocode 4 will be implemented to a comprehensive number of examples, where different methods to address the slab temperature profile in the concrete flange are used. Practical advice for fire design and protection coating definition will be presented. Numerical Finite Element Model (FEM) analyses were used to support some of the conclusions.