Smart Structural Monitoring: Real-Time Bridge Response Using Digital Twins and Inverse Analysis

Continuous monitoring is significant to ensure the safe operation of infrastructure systems despite the high costs of traditional methods. The current study presents the development of a real-time digital twin of a laboratory-scaled bridge that can assist in the infrastructure monitoring process. Initially, the bridge model was instrumented with strain gauges, and a script was developed to conduct an inverse structural analysis and subsequently, run a finite element analysis to visualize the overall structural response. Three main loading scenarios were tested, and observations highlighted that the digital twin model emulated the actual structural behavior with a high accuracy. Also, the magnitude and the location of the applied loads on the real structure were correctly identified and a linear elastic behavior was identified in the digital model as expected from the actual structure. Further, the rates of change in the strain values and deflections were also evaluated while discussing the significance of digital twin development.