Research project Bridge-model-update
Model update for model calibration and damage localisation taking into account combined probabilistic-possibilistic uncertainty using the example of bridges
Project name Model update for model calibration and damage localisation taking into account combined probabilistic-possibilistic uncertainty using the example of bridges
Acronym Bridge-model-update
Project partner Institute of Structural Mechanics and Design
Grantor DFG
Duration 2025 – 2028

Research field
 E+E
(E+E > Energy + Environment
I+I > Information + Intelligence
M+M > Matter + Materials)
Project content In contrast to applications in mechanical engineering or other industries that work with series production, civil engineering structures such as bridges are characterised by their individuality and their long service life. Many civil engineering structures are built only once and then operated for decades. Through life extension measures, service lifetimes of over a hundred years are sometimes achieved. This special construction and operation method results in many challenges. For example, there are usually no prototypes for the structure under investigation. The documentation of the structure itself, its operation and maintenance is also incomplete or imprecise in many cases, especially for very old structures. This leads to considerable uncertainty, for example, in information about the material or the stiffness of connections. To still ensure a long, but also safe and economical service life, in recent years, research has increasingly focussed on the combination of simulation models and monitoring of the real structure. In this way, digital twins of the real structures are created. Digital twin represent the real structure them over its entire life by, inter alia, taking into account any damage that occurs. The adaption of the simulation model to the real structure is frequently done with the help of model updating methods. If uncertainty in the model and the measurements is explicitly taken into account during the model update, it this called robust model updating. Model updates of civil engineering structures that on the one hand, feature uncertainty in their reference, i.e., undamaged, state and on the other hand, change over time are the focus of this research project. For the uncertainty in the reference state, model calibrations are necessary. Changes over time can, for example, be damage which must be detected and localised. Both, model calibration and damage localisation, can be done using model updating methods. In this research project, model updates are to be carried out exemplarily on a pedestrian bridge (HUMVIB bridge) built for various research purposes.