Operational modal analysis of rigid frame bridge with data from navigation satellite system measurements

The Real Time BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has evolved into a reliable technique to detect both the three-dimensional magnitudes and frequencies of displacement of structures. BDS technology is exactly what monitoring needs for the bridge deformation. Also, the oscillations and damage severity can be evaluated and classified according to the dynamic bridge characteristics obtained from BDS. The intention of the present work is to demonstrate the use of BDS to provide data for the assessment of existing structures safety. The raw data were collected continuously over a period of 24 h at a minimum rate of 1 Hz. The collected data include traffic flow (for load estimation) and environment factors (such as wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity and temperature). The vibration frequencies are also measured from BDS data and compared with those given in the literature. The results of all the experiments proved to be very encouraging, and showed that the performance of BDS as it has developed in recent years, and that the BDS is reliably in quantifying both environmental induced bridge vibrations and high-frequency transient motion caused by vehicle loading, in particular changes of mass associated with changes in traffic loading are observed, providing the ability for verification and/or improvement of bridge design and modelling.