THEMATIC EU-NETWORK SAMCO
Structural Assessment
Monitoring and Control
Structural Assessment, Monitoring and Control has gained importance in our complex technical environment. The European Union/ DG Research appreciates the development and supports the activities in these fields for the benefit of society.
SAMCO focuses on methods for the assessment of the status of existing structures (safety inspection, quality control, improved strategies for maintenance) and on measures to increase the structural safety (also earthquake resistance) and vibration protection. The kick-off meeting was held on 5th October 2001 in Assisi, Italy.
The main goal of the network is the practice oriented presentation of existing knowledge. Working groups will present the State-of-the-Art of Monitoring and Assessment, Structural Control, Whole Life Cost and Risk Management, Micro Zonation and Soil Damping and Environmental Loads.
The network has a homepage and will provide as much as possible relevant links (http://www.samco.org). Further, there will be a database at JRC Ispra. The huge amount of data available shall be collected, sorted and properly stored in the data base at JRC. It shall contain information on already finished projects as well as ongoing activities. Furthermore information on the relevant literature and exemplary projects will be provided. The main innovation is in the free access to dynamic data gained from benchmark tests together with detailed description.
The database should contain many examples of different structures. To make them really useful for practical engineers they should have the following structure:
· Description of the structure (type, dimensions, year of construction, etc.),
· Modelling, analysis (FE- and other models, results of in-situ measurements, etc.),
· Results (internal forces, details of design),
· Demonstration of simplest acceptable analysis method,
· Publications, references, contacts.
Civil Engineering is still a very conservative discipline. New assessment methods, which include new concepts like measurements (e.g. measurement of dynamic parameters) are not well known by the potential end users. Further, the owners of structures want to see reference projects and also codes as the basis for the application of new methods. Many of them have also problems with the theory behind the new methods. Due to all these facts they do not accept the new methods up to now. SAMCO will provide an End – User - Forum, where end users and proposers of new technologies will be brought together. The new methods will be demonstrated at workshops, summer academies etc.
SAMCO Workpackage no. 3 will concentrate on Recommendations, Codes and Guidelines. To remove the major obstacle in the application of "new methods", guidelines shall be drafted to form a basis for a public order of such services. Starting point shall be the guideline existing in Germany drafted in 1999. Negotiation with CEN shall be started for the implementation of the guidelines into the European code system.
Workpackage no. 4 will concentrate on the Certification of Methods. Tests have shown, that results of measurements, which were carried out by top- institutions can differ considerably due to different applications or "specialities" of hardware and software. In order to increase the usefulness of measurements and to enable comparable results a calibration of tools and methods is necessary. A Certification System has to be established, which should be finally implemented in every European country.
Workpackage no. 5 is devoted to Benchmark Tests. The main innovation is in the free access to dynamic data gained from benchmark tests together with a detailed description. The benchmark tests will provide uninterrupted data over a period of 2 years. A couple of major structures shall be instrumented and monitored. Among the candidates is the highest building in Europe- the Commerzbank in Frankfurt, one of the highest steel- bridges- the Europabridge in Austria, a cable-stayed bridge in France and other objects of interest. The possibility to gain these data has been proven to be one of the most attractive features of the Network.
Workpackage no. 7 is concentrated on Dissemination of Information. This comprises the use of the data base where actively information shall be sent out to stimulate its use. Furthermore the right connection to the relevant information shall be provided on request. An electronic journal to be developed under this task shall be distributed as wide as possible. It shall report on the activities of the Network as well as ongoing European Research Projects. The further activity is devoted to international collaboration. This comprises a representation of the Network at international conferences and co-ordination meetings to major activities outside of Europe.
Workpackage no. 9 is devoted to Practical Bridge Management. It is thought to interface the other WPs because its aim is to finalize and organize the knowledge and specific tools, available in the SAMCO network, in such a way that, filtered by the end-user point of view, they will result in practical guidelines and criteria to serve the purposes and needs of the management of bridges.
The first SAMCO Workshop will be held during the Third World Conference on Structural Control, Como, Italy, 7 – 12 April 2002.
The core of the network consists of 20 partners (see homepage). 8 of them are also members of the Steering Committee. At the moment about 40 working members and end-user members get their contracts. The network will be kept always as open as possible. Interested institutions and individuals are invited to contact the network – coordinator Dr. Helmut Wenzel – vce@atnet.at
R. Flesch