Application of the damage index method for plate-like structures to timber bridges

The paper presents a research recently completed by the authors utilizing a method of damage evaluation for identifying damage in timber bridges, numerically and experimentally. The method utilizes changes in modal strain energy between the undamaged and damaged states of plate-like structures. A finite element model of a laboratory timber bridge was developed to investigate the capabilities and limitations of the method to detect damage. A simple four-girder bridge was fabricated and tested in a laboratory to verify the method. The numerical studies showed that the method can correctly identify single and multiple damage locations within the bridge. The experimental studies also showed promising results for detecting severe damage, but less effective for light and medium damage.