Remote performance monitoring of a thermoplastic composite bridge at Camp Mackall, NC

Abstract : This Corrosion Prevention and Control project demonstrated the use of an automated structural performance monitoring (SPM) system to remotely monitor the long-term performance of an innovative bridge constructed of recycled thermoplastics. The SPM system was designed to automatically collect the desired performance data and to provide the data to remote users for ongoing evaluation of the bridge. The system utilizes resistance-type strain gages and laser displacement sensors to monitor the strain and displacements imposed both by thermal impacts under static loading and dynamic loading created by vehicle crossing events. The system uses programmable automated data acquisition equipment to detect a vehicle event of interest, capture the strain and displacement time histories, and make a photograph of the vehicle for identification purposes. This report documents the installation and configuration of the SPM system, and describes the data collected to date from remote monitoring and load testing activities. A review of the data collected to date indicates that good-quality continuous data are being collected with minimal labor requirement. The data are being used to evaluate how the bridge is performing relative to design assumptions, and establish a baseline of bridge static and dynamic response for structural performance evaluation over time.