Model-based structural health monitoring and damage detection are topics of significant research. The extension of the experimental modal analysis methodology to inoperation modal analysis (OMA) opens very interesting perspectives hereto. But many hurdles still need to be taken to allow the application to full-scale problems. Key challenges remain on the level of sensors and sensor networks, sensor data acquisition and processing and fully automated model identification. The present paper addresses a number of these issues in the context of the ambient vibration monitoring of a steel bridge over the Vistula River in the city of Krakow.
The results of an operational modal analysis of the bridge structure conducted during summer and winter time are presented and discussed. Based on these results, the locations of vibration sensors for a permanent monitoring system on the bridge structure are chosen. A monitoring system for vibration measurements is designed using a wireless sensor network including 16 sensors, one receiver station and data processing software. The measurements are fully synchronized and a parallel structure for the sensor network is designed. Finally, some results of the monitoring of the bridge vibration are presented.
