Pont3: Anticipating failure propagation of ageing bridges through a cost-effective interdisciplinary approach – Local failures & progressive collapse
Principal researchers:
JOSE M. ADAM
CARLOS M. LÁZARO
Team members:
- JUAN J. MORAGUES
- SALVADOR MONLEÓN
- MANUEL BUITRAGO
- ESTÍVALIZ LOZANO
- ANA SÁNCHEZ-RODRÍGUEZ
- JUAN CAMILO REYES-SUÁREZ
- NIRVAN MAKOOND
- M. CRISTINA PORCU
Funding Agency:
Duration: 01/09/2022 – 31/08/2025
Reference: PID2021-124236OB
Abstract:
Transportation networks represent an essential pillar of our civilisation and bridges are vital for their functioning. As is the case with other key infrastructures, there is clearly a global need for them to be more resilient in the face of present challenges. Ageing bridges stand out as being particularly vulnerable elements of transportation networks due to their exposure to deterioration processes over time and to higher loads than those considered when they were designed. This is evidenced by the increasing number of accidents related to ageing bridges resulting in significant losses for society. Many of these tragedies have been triggered by localised failures that propagate to other parts of the structural system through a phenomenon known as progressive collapse.
Measuring technologies and damage identification techniques available today present a tremendous potential for informing effective risk mitigation decisions through the early identification of possible failures. Presently, most bridge monitoring solutions focus on a general damage identification or on an optimisation of the maintenance plan. Such solutions are usually highly bespoke and expensive, prohibiting their application on a large-scale. Nevertheless, an opportunity does exist for developing targeted monitoring solutions for the early identification of specific damages which may lead to grave negative consequences.
Pont3 overall aim is to develop a novel holistic and cost-effective approach to anticipate failure propagation of ageing bridges and thus contribute to avoiding collapses.
In the context of this project, solutions will be developed for two of the most common types of ageing bridges: steel truss and masonry arch bridges. The development of this approach will first involve identifying local failures that can cause cascading effects through possible failure scenarios. Methods for defining cost-effective monitoring configurations able to detect the identified local failure modes will then be developed together with ultra-efficient data analysis tools able to update specifically-designed risk indicators for supporting decisions in real-time.
The most significant scientific and technical contributions of Pont3 will be novel monitoring strategies and methods that will eventually facilitate the large-scale application of bridge monitoring solutions for anticipating catastrophic failures and thus contribute to making bridges safer and more resilient.
The overarching aim of Pont3 clearly relies on the interdisciplinarity that must be addressed through a coordinated project as it combines in a single harmonised approach technologies and techniques used in diverse fields such as structural analysis, condition surveying, artificial intelligence and decision-making strategies.
Within Pont3, the subproject led by UPV is concerned with studying failure propagation scenarios, performing laboratory tests and implementing the developed methods in real bridges.
