Structural monitoring of the Great Belt East Bridge

Structural monitoring programmes which register key parameters systematically provide valuable information in the current assessment of structural integrity, durability and reliability. The application of new structural concepts in the design of the Great Belt East Bridge and the complexity and size of the bridge have called for implementation of such programmes to ensure cost optimal maintenance planning and safe bridge operation. When the bridge is opened for traffic, the ordinary car driver will likely be unaware of the fact that 1000 sensors will register approximately 4 million structural and loading data while he pass the bridge. In the paper a number of the structural monitoring programmes planned for the East Bridge will be presented. Some of the programmes will include application of state-of-the-art monitoring equipment technology and selection of key parameters for surveillance. The latter is of significant importance in the design of the monitoring programmes to enable readily interpretation of the measuring results. Consequently the 4 million data will be reduced to approximately 350 key parameters through on-line and automatic data acquisition.