Damage detection for continuous beams by using the tap-scan method.

• An analytical solution to the responses of a vehicle passing through continuous beams. • The quantitative relationship between vehicle acceleration and the damage. • Detailed comparison of the damage relationships for simply-supported and continuous beams. Damage detection for bridges using a passing vehicle has drawn much interest. Recent studies demonstrate that the tap-scan method is an efficient way to detect the change of beam bending stiffness. A quantitative relationship between the change of beam bending stiffness and the acceleration of a vehicle can be evaluated. However, the reported relationship is calibrated for a simply-supported beam, which may be unsuitable for continuous beams due to inherent structural differences. Addressing this, an analytical solution for damage detection for continuous beams using the tap-scan method is presented in this paper. Case studies reveal that damage relationships across different spans of continuous beams show negligible dependence on modal parameters and beam lengths. Consequently, the damage identification within any span of a continuous beam can be accomplished using the same damage relationship calibrated on a simply-supported beam. But it should be noticed that the damage relationship might differ by beam structural forms. The above result holds substantial implications for practical engineering scenarios, notably by diminishing the labor and complexity associated with the calibration of damage relationships for continuous beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]