Bridges can develop dangerous internal damage long before any signs of it are visible on the outside. Researchers at the Chair of Structural Engineering are working on new methods to detect such changes at an early stage.

Dr. Alexander Ahrens, Aeneas Paul, and Noah Sträter from the Chair of Structural Engineering are investigating how the condition of bridges can be continuously monitored using modern monitoring methods. They are relying on ultrasound and fiber optics: Sträter is developing a network of ultrasonic sensors that reveal changes within the concrete. Paul uses fiber-optic sensors that detect even the slightest strains on a bridge’s surface, thereby providing indications of damage to the prestressing tendons.

The goal of the research is to detect damage processes as early as possible—long before the safety of a structure is compromised. This would allow for better utilization of the service life of existing bridges. At the same time, there would be more time to plan necessary reinforcements or a replacement structure, thereby avoiding long-term closures.

To learn how these two monitoring methods work, what challenges monitoring old prestressed concrete bridges entails, and what opportunities this research offers for bridge infrastructure, read the detailed article on the RUB News Portal.