Lewis & Clark Bridge Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)

The Lewis & Clark Bridge

In 2014, Sixense was awarded the Lewis & Clark Bridge (Phase 2) project by the construction joint venture (JV), Walsh-Vinci Construction. This included a multi-sensor SHMS (Structural Health Monitoring System) and an Integrated Asset Management System and software.

Since the bridge’s opening in December 2016, Sixense has worked with WVB East End Partners, the concession company operating the Lewis & Clark Bridge for a 35-year term. The Lewis & Clark Bridge crosses the Ohio River northeast of downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It is a major span stay cable bridge with (2) diamond-shaped pylons.

The Structural Health Monitoring System collects high-frequency data from more than 80 hard-wired sensors; including:

1. GPS
2. A weather station
3. Accelerometers (3D and 2D)
4. Bearing displacement sensors
5. Inclinometers
6. Temperature sensors
7. Load cells

The number and type of sensors were defined by the tender specifications, but the final design of the system was performed by Sixense Northern America, along with the supply, installation, commissioning, and ongoing real-time monitoring.

The sensors spread over the 2,500 ft. long structure from the Pylon top to the pier base. They are all connected to an acquisition system comprised of 2 main acquisition units and multiple smart junction boxes. Fiber-optic connections provide communication between the acquisition nodes and the primary acquisition unit.

ScanPrint

The local acquisition computer communicates over the internet with a web-based software called ScanPrint SHM that enables visualization of the data. This software also covers the parametrization of the system and reporting. Additionally, it provides real-time and statistical data of the sensors and includes scenarios where the data of different sensors are graphically presented together to better understand the bridge’s behavior.

Sixense’s Role at the Lewis & Clark Bridge Today

The design and supply of the system took 6 months, followed by the installation and commissioning, which took approximately 4 months and were performed to match the construction planning. The project was delivered within the original budget and schedule.

The system remains in place on the bridge today, and Sixense continues to give the client peace of mind with their state-of-the-art Structural Health Monitoring System.