Using Structural Health Monitoring Data for Predictive Maintenance of Reinforced Concrete Bridges: A Case Study of Edion and Orle Bridges

Abstract

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has emerged as a critical
tool for assessing the condition of reinforced concrete bridges
and guiding predictive maintenance strategies. This study
presents an investigation of two bridges along the Auchi Benin
Expressway, Edion and Orle, based on vibration analysis, crack
assessment,
deflection
measurement,
environmental
monitoring, and traffic evaluation. The Edion Bridge
demonstrated a 14% reduction in modal frequency, an increase
in damping ratio from 1.81% to 2.62%, and an RMS velocity
increase from 0.45 mm/s to 0.59 mm/s, along with crack widths
of 0.28 0.35 mm. Conversely, the Orle Bridge maintained
relatively stable vibration characteristics, minimal crack
development (<0.06 mm), and satisfactory elastic recovery
under service loads. These results indicate early-stage
deterioration at Edion Bridge and satisfactory structural
performance at Orle Bridge. The findings underscore the
importance of continuous SHM and data-driven predictive
maintenance for reinforced concrete bridges to optimize safety,
serviceability, and lifecycle cost.