Verification of novel design aspects of jointless bridges by monitoring

For some time now short-span bridges such as overpasses have been designed as frame structures in Austria. During this phase little problems have been observed with this type of design thus constantly pushing the popularity of this construction type towards application for increasingly longer structures. Caused by this development and the fact thatsuch highly undetermined structures are very susceptible to constraint loads a series of research projects was set up. The main targets are an improved understanding of the soilstructure interaction, the effects of temperature loads, time dependent processes like creep and shrinkage as well as partial settlements. Apart from theoretical considerations andnumerical simulations the primary objective is monitoring of actual structural response in particular the structure-soil-interaction of newly erected long frame bridges. In this paper a suitable integral monitoring concept for a three-span frame-structure is being introduced and the data preparation discussed.For some time now short-span bridges such as overpasses have been designed as frame structures in Austria. During this phase little problems have been observed with this type of design thus constantly pushing the popularity of this construction type towards application for increasingly longer structures. Caused by this development and the fact thatsuch highly undetermined structures are very susceptible to constraint loads a series of research projects was set up. The main targets are an improved understanding of the soilstructure interaction, the effects of temperature loads, time dependent processes like creep and shrinkage as well as partial settlements. Apart from theoretical considerations andnumerical simulations the primary objective is monitoring of actual structural response in particular the structure-soil-interaction of newly erected long frame bridges. In this paper a suitable integral monitoring concept for a three-span frame-structure is being introduced and the data preparation discussed.C