Structural Monitoring

Bridge Monitoring

Highway Bridges

Highway Bridge Monitoring

Strainstall works closely with Managing Agent Contractors, consulting engineers, local authorities and other specialist testing and inspection companies to deliver solutions that meet the clients' specific requirements. With our clear understanding of the issues related to highway bridge assessment and management, we are able to advise on appropriate monitoring and testing regimes and to assist in preparation of work specifications.

Typical highway bridge monitoring projects include:

• Supplementary Load Testing
  We have sensors and instrumentation that can be deployed for short term testing projects that include strain, displacement and inclination measurement. Special extending masts can be used to mount spring-loaded vertical displacement sensors against the soffits of bridge decks, minimising the time and effort needed to gain access.
• Bearing Monitoring
  Bearings require periodic maintenance and replacement. It can be cost-effective to monitor their performance (ie movement ranges, wear rates) so that their lifespan can be prolonged.    
• Concrete Half Joint Monitoring
  Half joints are particularly vulnerable to deterioration and very difficult to inspect. Strain and crack growth on the visible fascias and displacement across the joint itself can be monitored, in order to provide information about its ongoing condition. 
• Bearing Replacement
  The provision of systems to monitor the disposition of the deck relative to its supports in order to help jacking operations to remain within prescribed limits. These systems are able to provide real-time warnings via email/SMS in the event of any triggered events.
• Post Tensioned Bridge Special Inspections
  Working alongside materials testing companies, we provide a service to measure 'dead load' stresses in PT concrete (and other) bridges using in-situ stress techniques.
• Sub-Standard Bridges
  DMRB standard BD79 provides for 'Monitoring Interim Measures' as one of the methods for managing sub-standard bridges. Examples we have worked on include strain and crack width monitoring.
• Structural Health Monitoring
  Often specified for major long span bridges, the concept of monitoring specific parameters to understand better the responses to load and temperature is widely applied to highway bridges as an effective asset management tool.