The complex nature of structural phenomena still requires the comparison between numerical models and the real structural performance. Accordingly, many civil structures are monitored to detect structural damage and provide updated data for numerical models. Monitoring usually relies on the change of dynamic properties (experimental modal analysis). Regarding concrete structures, existing works have typically focused on the progressive decrease of natural frequencies under gradually increasing loads. In this paper, high-cycle fatigue effects are analyzed. An experimental campaign on specimens reproducing the top slab of concrete girders has been carried out, including fatigue tests and a reference static test. Impact-excitation tests were done at different stages to extract dynamic properties. Output-only models (only based on the structural response to an external excitation that is not measured) were used as identification techniques. The evolution of dynamic properties was correlated with damage development, with emphasis on the fatigue process stages: crack formation, cyclic reduction of tension-stiffening and brittle fracture of the reinforcement.Keywords: Concrete bridges; fatigue; cracking; damage identification; output-only models.
RESUMEN La naturaleza compleja de muchos fenómenos estructurales requiere que los modelos numéricos necesiten ser verificados con el comportamiento estructural real. Por ello, muchas estructuras son monitorizadas, tanto para detectar posibles daños estructurales como para proporcionar datos a incluir en los modelos. A menudo