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Recent Advances in Structural Health Monitoring of Bridges

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Sensor Networks".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 592

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: structural health monitoring; vibration-based model updating; model-based damage identification; historical constructions; masonry bridges; scour monitoring

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Guest Editor
Construction Technologies Institute (ITC), National Research Council of Italy, Corso N. Protopisani, 80146 Naples, Italy
Interests: structural health monitoring; finite element model updating; operational modal analysis; arch bridge; structural dynamics

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Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: bridge engineering; cultural heritage structures; modal and structural identification; earthquake engineering; structural dynamics; structural health monitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is crucial for ensuring safety and preventing downtime of civil structures and infrastructures. Recent advancements in sensing technologies, modelling strategies and data analysis have significantly improved the ability to identify anomalies, assess structural conditions, and predict future performance. Furthermore, in recent years, traditional sensing techniques have seen a rapid increase in applications, enabling the validation of data analysis methods for SHM towards the technology transfer to industrial practice.

This special issue of Sensors focuses on SHM strategies for bridges, viaducts, and overpasses, addressing the advancements in sensing technologies, experimental techniques, and theoretical development, as well as lessons learned from long-term monitoring experiences of full-scale structures. Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Innovative sensors for SHM;
  • Model-based and data-driven techniques for damage identification;
  • Digital twin for condition assessment and predictive maintenance;
  • Data fusion and multi-sensors integration;
  • Population-based SHM methods;
  • Vision-based systems for condition assessment;
  • Fiber optic sensing networks;
  • Monitoring applications to historical bridges;
  • Multi-disciplinary approaches for scour monitoring;
  • Review of codes, standards, and regulations.

Particular attention is given to contributions demonstrating the applicability of SHM strategies to real-world infrastructures, fostering the transition from academic research to industrial practice. We encourage the submission of original research and review articles from both academia and industry, offering valuable insights into the latest developments and best practices in this rapidly evolving field.

Dr. Paolo Borlenghi
Dr. Ilenia Rosati
Dr. Carlo Rainieri
Prof. Dr. Carmelo Gentile
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • damage identification
  • operational modal analysis
  • machine learning
  • model-based SHM strategies
  • data fusion
  • digital twin

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

31 pages, 9138 KiB  
Article
Tension Force Estimation of Cable-Stayed Bridges Based on Computer Vision Without the Need for Direct Measurement of Mechanical Parameters of the Cables
by German Michel Guzman-Acevedo, Juan A. Quintana-Rodriguez, Guadalupe Esteban Vazquez-Becerra, Luis Alvaro Martinez-Trujano, Francisco J. Carrion-Viramontes and Jorge Garcia-Armenta
Sensors 2025, 25(13), 3910; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25133910 - 23 Jun 2025
Viewed by 299
Abstract
Commonly, accelerometers are used to determine the tension force in cables through an indirect process; however, it is necessary to know the mechanical parameters of each element, such as mass and length. Typically, obtaining or measuring these parameters is not feasible. Therefore, this [...] Read more.
Commonly, accelerometers are used to determine the tension force in cables through an indirect process; however, it is necessary to know the mechanical parameters of each element, such as mass and length. Typically, obtaining or measuring these parameters is not feasible. Therefore, this research proposed an alternative methodology to indirectly estimate them based on historical information about the so-called classic instruments (accelerometers and hydraulic jack). This case study focused on the Rio Papaloapan Bridge located in Veracruz, Mexico, a structure that has experienced material casting issues due to inadequate heat treatment in some cable top anchor over its lifespan. Thirteen cables from the structure were selected to evaluate the proposed methodology, yielding results within 3.8% of difference compared to direct tension estimation generated by a hydraulic jack. Furthermore, to enhance data collection, this process was complemented using a computer vision methodology. This involved remotely measuring the vibration frequency of cables from high-resolution videos recorded with a smartphone. The non-contact method was validated in a laboratory using a vibrating table, successfully estimating oscillation frequencies from video-recording with a fixed camera. A field test on eight cables of a bridge was also conducted to assess the performance and feasibility of the proposed method. The results demonstrated an RMS Error of approximately 2 mHz and a percentage difference in the tension force estimation below 3% compared to an accelerometer measurement approach. Finally, it was determined that this composed methodology for indirect tension force determination is a viable option when: (1) cables are challenging to access; (2) there is no line of sight between the camera and cables outside the bridge; (3) there is a lack of information about the mechanical parameters of the cables. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Structural Health Monitoring of Bridges)
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