Analysis of Recent Bridge Failures in the United States

Wardhana, Kumalasari; Hadipriono, Fabian C.

doi:10.1061/(asce)0887-3828(2003)17:3(144)

Cited by 774 publications

(312 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Adverse hydraulic action, including scour, is deemed to have accounted for over 53% of a total of 500 documented bridge failures in the United States between 1989 and 2000 [3]. Larger and more frequent flood flows coupled with aging infrastructure signify that scour analysis and monitoring is becoming increasingly important in modern times [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An investigation of the changes in the natural frequency of a pile affected by scour

Prendergast

Hester

Gavin

et al. 2013

Journal of Sound and Vibration

121

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Publication informationJournal of Sound and Vibration, 332 (25): 6685-6702Publisher Elsevier Item record/more information http://hdl.handle.net/10197/6581 Publisher's statementThis is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Sound and Vibration. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Sound and Vibration (VOL 332, ISSUE 25, (2013) AbstractScour around bridge foundations is one of the leading causes of bridge failure. Up until recently, the monitoring of this phenomenon was primarily based around using underwater instrumentation to monitor the progression of scour holes as they develop around foundation systems. Vibration-based damage detection techniques have been used to detect damage in bridge beams. The application of these vibration based methods to the detection of scour has come to the fore in research in recent years. This paper examines the effect that scour has on the frequency response of a driven pile foundation system, similar to those used to support road and rail bridges. The effect of scour on the vibration characteristics of the pile is examined using laboratory and field testing. It is clear that there is a very clear reduction in the natural frequency of the pile as the severity of scour increases. It is shown that by combining state-of-the-art geotechnical techniques with relatively simple finite element modelling approaches, it is possible to accurately predict the natural frequency of the pile for a given scour depth. Therefore, the paper proposes a method that would allow the estimation of scour depth for a given observed pile frequency. Scour Monitoring: The accurate assessment and monitoring of existing structures to progressive scour has come to the fore of research in recent years [7,8]. A myriad of current technology aims to detect the existence and severity of scour around the foundation systems of existing bridge structures. Most of these technologies comprise underwater instrumentation that aim to monitor the evolution of scour holes over time. A brief summary of available instrumentation is given herein. The use of float-out devices [9] and Tethered Buried Switches [10] positioned in the soil near a bridge pier can provide a simple method of scour monitoring. These devices float out when the scour depth reaches their position and are programmed to send a remote signal to provide a warning. However, they require reinstallation upon floating out, which is a distinct disadvantage. Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) aims to detect changes in the dielectric permittivity constants between materials that would occur at a water-sediment interface and thus has been used to detect scour [10 -12]. Devices using this method work very well at detecting the depth of scour i...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An investigation of the changes in the natural frequency of a pile affected by scour

Prendergast

Hester

Gavin

et al. 2013

Journal of Sound and Vibration

121

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“…One study found that 53% of 500 bridge failures occurring between 1989 and 2000 in the United States occurred as a result of flooding and/or scour problems [4]. This issue presents a significant cost burden on bridge owners/managers worldwide between inspections, scour protection installation and repairing damage caused by scour [5].…”

Section: Bridge Scourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolating the location of scour-induced stiffness loss in bridges using local modal behaviour

Prendergast

Gavin

Hester

2017

J Civil Struct Health Monit

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Detecting scour by analysing bridge vibrations is receiving an increasing amount of attention in the literature. Others have considered changes in natural frequency to indicate the presence of scour damage; however, little work has been reported on identifying the location of a scour hole based on vibration measurements. In this paper, a numerical study is carried out using a bespoke vehiclebridge-soil dynamic interaction model to examine how the first six vibration modes (Eigen frequencies) of a typical integral bridge are affected by scour at different locations. It is found that depending on the location of the scour hole, some modes are much more affected than others in terms of frequency changes. In fact, a clear pattern emerges as to which modes are affected by which scour location. Using this knowledge, the location of a scour hole can potentially be detected on a real bridge. However, recognising that it is not possible to undertake an eigenvalue analysis on an actual bridge, an analysis is performed by collecting acceleration signals from various points on the structure. The bridge is loaded by a realistic vehicle model, incorporating vehicle-bridge interaction effects, which leads to the generation of discrete acceleration signals at various 'sensor' locations on the bridge. In this paper, it is found that it is possible to detect the location of a scour hole using a relatively small number of 'sensors'. However, to achieve this, careful signal processing is necessary and advice on a number of pertinent issues is provided.

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“…Between 1989 and 2000 there were over 500 bridge collapses in the United States alone (Wardhana & Hadipriono, 2003). River bed scour was responsible for 165 of the failures and ice was the cause of 10 of the collapses (Wardhana & Hadipriono, 2003). In April of 1987, the Schoharie Creek Bridge in New York collapsed due to sediment scour around the bridge pier (Hains & Zabilansky, 2007).…”

Section: Historical Ice Related Disastersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since man has been constructing bridges and crossing structures over river channels, there have been a number of accidents involving ice build up, ice jams and sediment scour. Between 1989 and 2000 there were over 500 bridge collapses in the United States alone (Wardhana & Hadipriono, 2003). River bed scour was responsible for 165 of the failures and ice was the cause of 10 of the collapses (Wardhana & Hadipriono, 2003).…”

Section: Historical Ice Related Disastersmentioning

confidence: 99%