Fusion of wireless and non-contact technologies for the dynamic testing of a historic RC bridge

In this paper, a dynamic testing and corresponding signal processing methodology is presented for condition assessment of bridge structures, via use of a diverse and potentially dense grid of low-cost and easily deployable monitoring technologies. In particular, wireless and non-contact sensors are simultaneously deployed on a historic reinforced concrete bridge in order to record acceleration and dynamic displacement response, under operational loading conditions. An innovative monitoring approach is proposed on both the hardware (sensors) and software (algorithmic) front, in which an effective data fusion procedure is adopted for fusing these alternative technologies for vibration-based monitoring in terms of both acceleration and displacement information. The demonstrated efficacy of the fusion procedure on the case-study of an actual operating system, the historic Brivio bridge, reveals the potential of this approach within the context of structural monitoring, where acquisition of heterogeneous information certainly proves advantageous.