This presentation discusses the possibilities associated between the existing available appliedresearch in wireless sensors and the always increasing need to identify/address existing railroadbridges performance under actual traffic. In one hand, universities and research centers today aredeveloping the advance theory and framework for the use of wireless sensors in structures healthmonitoring .To implement wireless sensors in the areas where quantitative / objective data isrequired. Timber trestle bridges are carrying most of the main line traffic in the US, especially inthe South Regions, and a significant number of those are in need of maintenance and orreplacement. The maintenance and/or replacement of timber bridges is based on visual/directand individual inspections, which can not assess objective/quantitative data of the bridgeperformance under loading. Different bridge inspectors will not be able to determine objectiveparameters for different bridges, and even more, different loading conditions. The dynamicresponse of the timber trestle bridge continues to be an isolated parameter that can not becompared with the existing maintenance/inspection program.The authors gathered data obtained by connecting wireless sensors to existing timber trestlebridges which were identified to show excessive longitudinal and transversal displacement underregular traffic loading.The paper includes the description on the implementation process of wireless sensors under realon-site conditions, critique to the results and their validity, and proposed improvements in theentire data acquisition, comprised in concrete proposals. It finally summarizes recommendationsfor future/potential use in the railroad timber trestle railroad bridge maintenance, inspection andassessment.
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