Work

Microwave Radar-Based Cable Displacement Measurement for Tension, Vibration, and Damping Assessment

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cables in cable-supported bridges are critical structural components with exceptional tensile capacity, and their assessment is essential for the safety of both the cables themselves and the entire bridge. Microwave radar, a non-contact and efficient measurement technique, has emerged as a promising tool for bridge cable evaluation. This study demonstrates the deployment of microwave radar on bridge decks to efficiently measure the displacements of multiple cables, enabling coverage of all cables while effectively eliminating low-frequency components caused by deck deformation and radar motion using the LOWESS method. The measured cable displacements can be directly used to characterize vibrations, particularly for detecting vortex-induced vibrations (VIVs), without the need for numerical integration of accelerations. Furthermore, microwave radar is applied to free-decay testing for cable damping evaluation, providing an improved signal-to-noise ratio and eliminating the need for sensors installed via elevated platforms, thereby enhancing the reliability of damping assessments. The effectiveness of these approaches is validated through field testing on two cable-stayed bridges.

Source: Sensors

DOI: 10.3390/s26020494

Authors: Guanxu Long, Gongfeng Xin, Zhiqiang Shang, Limin Sun, Lin Chen

Institution: Tongji University

Language: English

Topic: Structural Health Monitoring Techniques

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137