Risk Mitigation of a Heritage Bridge Using Noninvasive Sensors.

Area of Science:

• Structural Engineering
• Heritage Conservation
• Risk Management

Background:

• Heritage bridges face unique preservation challenges balancing structural integrity with conservation constraints.
• Australia's early reinforced concrete bridges are critical infrastructure requiring robust management strategies.
• This study focuses on a 120-year-old heritage bridge at risk from traffic, environmental factors, and foundation issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate risk mitigation strategies for a heritage-listed reinforced concrete bridge.
• To develop and validate a digital twin model for simulating risk scenarios.
• To propose an Incident Response Framework for heritage bridge management.

Main Methods:

• Non-invasive testing, including ambient vibration testing and laser displacement monitoring.
• Development and validation of a digital twin structural model using field data.
• "What-if" scenario simulations on the digital twin to assess risks like overweight vehicles and scouring.

Main Results:

• The digital twin model accurately represented the bridge's behavior under various conditions.
• Quantitative risk assessments were performed for critical scenarios.
• A six-phase Incident Response Framework was developed based on case study insights.

Conclusions:

• Digital twin technology offers a powerful tool for assessing and managing risks to heritage bridges.
• The proposed Incident Response Framework provides a structured approach to heritage bridge preservation.
• Effective risk mitigation is crucial for maintaining the functionality and longevity of heritage bridge assets.