Structural Intelligence in Bridge Monitoring – Intelligent Real-Time Monitoring, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and Structural Analysis of Bridges

The volume of traffic is increasing; especially heavy load traffic has seen a significant increase in recent years. At the same time, more and more bridges in Germany have age-related damage or are not designed for these high loads – for cost reasons, however, many of the existing bridges cannot be quickly replaced with new structures. Inaction will lead to the number of bridges rapidly declining and therefore will endanger mobility. Solutions must be found which continue to ensure safe crossing without incurring high additional costs.

Wölfel helps operators of bridge structures with solutions for structural health monitoring to detect possible damage to the structure at an early stage. This is often the only way to significantly extend the service life of structures.

OFFER & CONSULTING

Detect damage at an early stage, optimize maintenance work, extend lifetime

According to DIN 1076, bridges must be inspected visually and "up-close" on a regular basis. As an additive method, monitoring provides you with valid statements about fatigue and extreme loads and reliably monitors the progress of preliminary damage, thus ensuring safety at all times and allowing for a lifetime extension.

Possible areas of application

Acceptance test/baseline measurement:
In order to have comparison values for later measurements and to detect defects at an early stage, we determine all relevant parameters already at the beginning of the life cycle, including effects due to traffic, temperature or wind as well as resistances (acceleration, strain, inclination).

Monitoring to support verification:
We provide missing characteristic values for the critical verifications and provide metrological support for the necessary retrofitting measures. This ensures the most continuous operation possible without failures and disturbances and it ensures the safe lifetime extension of the bridge.

Construction condition monitoring:
We validate calculated temporary construction conditions by measuring the associated parameters (also during deconstruction) to ensure the safe operation at the construction site of the bridge and to control the construction progress.

Damage monitoring (e.g. as part of recalculations):
In case of specific problems and damages (e.g. coupling joint problems, stress corrosion cracking, cracked tendons) we monitor the damage progression. This is the basis for the development of effective countermeasures and helps verifying the effectiveness of the measures after the retrofit is completed.

The advantages and possible applications of bridge monitoring at a glance:

Continuous structural information to ensure overall stability even between manual inspection intervals

Ensuring high availability by maximizing periods of use and optimizing permissible traffic loads and vehicle speeds

Targeted and pre-emptive managing of rehabilitation to reduce maintenance costs

Lifetime extension of a bridge without compromising safety

Safe continued operation of existing structures until they are replaced by new structures

We specialize in bridge monitoring: Services and systems from a single source

We develop customized structural health monitoring concepts for bridges. Our in-depth expertise in this area is founded on our experience in the monitoring and data analysis of complex structures as, for example, with the foundation monitoring of offshore wind turbines.

Wölfel offers bridge monitoring solutions throughout the entire lifetime of the bridge. Our measurement concept for short-term measurements and continuous monitoring is modular: From a pool of high quality and tried-and-tested sensors and measuring devices, we put together a measuring system individually tailored to your project. Data analysis is performed with intelligent algorithms, taking into account operating and environmental conditions. The results are concrete recommendations for action that help increase availability and provide for a lifetime extension. In addition, we can also handle the necessary reporting and visualization of the data in our Monitoring Intelligence Center MIC.Bridge.

Please contact me personally

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I’ll be pleased to advise you on the development of an individual monitoring concept for your civil engineering project as well as on questions concerning our range of products and services in the field of structural intelligence.

Dr.-Ing. Carsten Ebert
CTO

+49 931 49708-240
ebert@woelfel.de
Contact form

Study

Civil Engineering (focus on renovation of old buildings), HTWK Leipzig, Dipl.-Ing. (FH)
Civil Engineering (focus on structural engineering), HTWK Leipzig, M.Sc.

Acadamic Degree

Dr.-Ing: Scientific assistant at HTWK Leipzig within a research project of the DFG (German Research Foundation); in cooperation with the University of Siegen, Prof. Fritzen, resulting in my dissertation in the field of structural dynamics.

Committee Activity

DIN 4150, Parts 1 and 3: "Vibration protection in civil engineering"

VDI 4551: "Structural monitoring and assessment of wind turbines and offshore stations"

IEA Wind, Task 42: "Wind Turbine Lifetime Extension"

Professional Motto

Innovative engineering solutions for comfort and cost efficiency

Working at Wölfel

I particularly enjoy being part of our young, pleasant and extremely successful team, solving new and exciting projects for our customers every day! Since 2008 "on board" there has never been a dull moment and I am thrilled to have been able to help shape and experience how technology made by Wölfel is used in modern wind turbines to further increase efficiency and environmental friendliness.