Analysis of dynamic characteristics for a cable-stayed bridge model using wireless sensor network

Dynamic characteristics of a cable-stayed bridge model were studied based on wireless sensors network (WSNs) with the purpose to extend application of WSN to bridge structures dynamic monitoring. Based on the in-house Binzhou Yellow River Highway Bridge reduced scale model, WSN tests were successfully conducted in comparison with parallel traditional wired accelerometer tests. Both Eigensystem Realization Algorithm (ERA) and Frequency Domain Decomposition (FDD) algorithms were used to verify the performance of WSN through identifying the structural modal parameters, including modal shapes and structural natural frequencies. The test results demonstrate that the WSN using Imote2 sensor platform can be employed in the application of bridge model dynamic characteristics analysis. It is also found that the bridge model has intensive vibration modes, which mainly consist of vertical modal shapes.