On-site loading test and short-term monitoring for Gerber steel truss bridges being used for 76 years

Abstract

In this study, on-site loading test and short-term monitoring using more than a hundred sensors were carried out for an existing long-span bridge, which has been managed by a local government, with the aim of evaluating its present load-carrying capacity and performance toward planning future maintenance strategy. The bridge studied is Gerber (cantilever) steel through truss bridges that were completed and opened to the traffic in 1937. As a result, the performance of Gerber hinges were evaluated, then information on priority for repair was obtained.