Monitoring Vibrations on Jefferson City Truss Bridge

The objective of the research was to determine the frequency and cause of resonant vibrations of vertical truss members on bridge A4497 over the Missouri River in Jefferson City, Missouri. Instrumentation to monitor the vibrations of four vertical members was installed on the bridge and monitored for 42 days. Weather data available from the weather station at the Jefferson City Memorial Airport were used to analyze weather conditions causing resonant vibrations of the four vertical members. Eleven vibration “events” were found where vertical members vibrated with higher than normal acceleration. The researchers also analyzed historical weather data to determine how frequently the resonance vibrations were occurring. The research team concluded that the frequency of resonant vibration events was likely 0.25 or fewer events per day. The vibrations were caused by average winds from the west-northwest, northwest, or southwest of approximately 17 mph or greater, based on monitoring results. Recommendations stemming from the research are as follows: • The effect of the vibration events on the durability of the vertical truss members should be analyzed further to determine if a retrofit is necessary. The data provided through the field monitoring should be used in the analysis. • Other vertical members of similar lengths should be monitored to determine if they are also affected by resonant vibrations.

• Record URL:
  http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/mtc/index.cfm/research/project/project/-1044376068
• Record URL:
  http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/research/projects/detail/?projectID=-1044376068
• Record URL:
  http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/research/documents/research-reports/monitoring_Jeff_City_truss_bridge_vibrations_w_cvr.pdf
• 

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $30000
• Contract Numbers:

  DTRT13-G-UTC37

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Midwest Transportation Center

  Iowa State University
  2711 S Loop Drive, Suite 4700
  Ames, IA  United States  50010-8664

  Missouri Department of Transportation

  1617 Missouri Boulevard
  P.O. Box 270
  Jefferson City, MO  United States  65102
• Managing Organizations:

  Midwest Transportation Consortium

  Iowa State University
  Ames, IA  United States  50010-8664
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Missouri, Columbia

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Columbia, MO  United States  65211
• Principal Investigators:

  Washer, Glenn

• Start Date: 20150701
• Expected Completion Date: 20160930
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge members; Bridge superstructures; Bridges; Resonance frequency; Truss bridges; Trusses; Vibration
• Geographic Terms: Jefferson City (Missouri); Missouri River
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01579696
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Midwest Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: DTRT13-G-UTC37
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Oct 27 2015 11:43AM