Comparison between accelerometer and laser vibrometer to measure traffic-excited vibrations on bridges

M. Gioffre; V. Gusella; Roberto Marsili; Gianluca L. Rossi

doi:10.1117/12.386764

22 May 2000 Comparison between accelerometer and laser vibrometer to measure traffic-excited vibrations on bridges

M. Gioffre, V. Gusella, Roberto Marsili, Gianluca L. Rossi

Proceedings Volume 4072, Fourth International Conference on Vibration Measurements by Laser Techniques: Advances and Applications; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.386764
Event: 4th International Conference on Vibration Measurement by Laser Techniques, 2000, Ancona, Italy

Abstract

The use of accelerometer based measurement techniques for evaluating bridge forced vibrations or to perform bridge modal analysis is well established. Some of the goals of this experimental approach and typical results are here reviewed. It is well known to all researchers who have experience in vibration measurements that values of acceleration amplitude can be very low at low frequencies and that a limitation to the use of accelerometer can be due to the threshold parameter of this kind of transducer. Under this condition the measurement of displacement seems more appropriate. On the other hand laser vibrometer systems detect relative displacements as opposed to the absolute measures of accelerometers. In this paper the results of some in field measurements on a highway little bridge, excited by traffic, under normal operating conditions, are analyzed. Vibrations have been measured simultaneously by a typical accelerometer for civil structures and by a laser vibrometer equipped with a fringe counter board in terms of velocity and displacements. The accelerations calculated from the laser vibrometer signals and the one directly measured by the accelerometer has been compared. The advantages of the use of a laser vibrometer at low frequency are relevant and it appears possible to open up new possibility to analyze bridge loads in operating conditions, monitoring bridge health state, predict fatigue life and improve the bridge design.

Citation Download Citation

M. Gioffre, V. Gusella, Roberto Marsili, and Gianluca L. Rossi "Comparison between accelerometer and laser vibrometer to measure traffic-excited vibrations on bridges", Proc. SPIE 4072, Fourth International Conference on Vibration Measurements by Laser Techniques: Advances and Applications, (22 May 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.386764

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available