Responsible Supervisor: Prof. J. Hildebrand

Structures in the frame of civil engineering are mostly unique. Because of this, investigations of such systems are normally only partially possible and their results are not applicable to other civil engineering structures. Prestressed spun-cast concrete poles, which are located next to railway tracks of the Deutsche Bahn, are numerous similar. With the possibility of repeating measurements on many identically produced structures statistical properties of the dynamic behavior can be determined.

For this aim, structural monitoring is conducted that includes measurements of the structural behavior from the production process to long-term loading conditions. Determination of real parameters and external actions as well as determination of associated structural responses are within the goal of this study. Furthermore, quantification of seasonal influences on the structural behavior and aspects about soil-structure-interaction are investigated.

The monitoring of the poles is divided into two parts. Short-term measurements were conducted for determination of system characteristics like mode shapes and natural frequencies. During long-term monitoring, three poles, which are located directly next to each other, are observed.

Because of the compact dimensions of one pole, four additional concrete poles are used for experimental investigations in the laboratory.

Finally, coupling between results of the monitoring, experimental investigations and of the numerical analyses are used to increase the prediction quality of models used in structural engineering.