Application of Differential GPS for the Displacement Measurement of Self-anchored Suspension Bridge under the Static and Dynamic Loading Cases

Bridge structures are designed to support ordinary loadings such as vehicles, wind, temperature and current as well as unexpected loadings like earthquakes and storm. Especially, the displacement of Flexible bridges like an suspension bridge under ordinary loading conditions is necessary to be monitored. In case of long span bridges, there are some difficulties in monitoring the displacement of center of the main span using traditional laser displacement sensors. In this study, the static and dynamic displacement responses due to vehicle loadings were measured by DGPS(differential global positioning system) technique. The displacement response data were compared with data obtained from traditional laser displacement sensors so that the static and dynamic behavior of the bridge under vehicle loadings was examined and the applicability of the displacement response measurement using DGPS technique was verified. The static and dynamic loading test for an self-anchored suspension bridge, So-rok Bridge, was performed using vehicles. The displacement response from DGPS technique and that from laser displacement sensors of the bridge monitoring system were compared. The amplitude of white noise from DGPS based measurement was about 7 mm and that of laser displacement sensor based measurement was about 3 mm. On the other hand, dynamic behavior of the center of main span from DGPS based measurement showed better agreement with influence line of the bridge than that from laser displacement sensors. In addition, there were some irregular and discontinuous variation of data due to the instability of GPS receivers or frequent appearance of GPS satellites. Post-processing via the reference station close to an observation post provided by NGII(National Geographic Information Institute) will be a counter-plan for these defects.