Damage Identification in Hangers of Through-Arch Bridges Using Static Deflection Difference at the Anchorage Point

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper deals with the damage detection of hangers of arch bridges. Numerical and experimental investigations are presented.

The damage is identified by the comparison of the deflection of the undamaged bridge and the current state of the bridge with respect to a constant static load. The method of identification is based on the force method of classical structural mechanics and gives hints for the position of the damaged hanger but not on the size of damage.

The benefit of the paper is the comparison of experiments and numerical investigations. Nonetheless, problem of the method in the application to real structures is the unknown deflection of the undamaged bridge and the inherent damage, which could not be identified. Furthermore, time dependent deflections due to creep or changing of stiffness of the whole bridge could distort the results.

If the paper will be published, an extension of the literature review to international experts and methods seems to be necessary.

 

Author Response

 

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Translator      

 

The authors propose a damage identification in arch bridges based on the deflection difference at the anchorage point of the hanger and the tie-beam. The paper is well structured and documented. A minor revision is needed.

Line 75 - Should include the description of the acronym OFBG.

Lines 138-140 - Revise these sentences.

In figure 2 – Isn’t clear the difference in deflection between 2a) 2b) and 2c). it is recommended to add a subplot, superposing the three deflections.

Figures 4 and 11 are missing the scale on the y-axis.

Line 208- Change S2, S3, S4 and S5 to N2, N3, N4 and N5.

Line 282 – Revise this sentence.

Lines 360-363- Revise this sentence. Too long and the expression "through-arch bridge" is repeated three times in the same sentence.

Check for typos: example in the subtitle 4.3 “Dmage”

Translator      

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

International experts from the "structurual health monitoring" community are are hardly cited.