The Rędziński Bridge in Wrocław is the biggest Polish concrete cable-stayed bridge. It is equipped with a large structural health monitoring (SHM) system which has been collecting the measured data since the bridge opening in the year 2011. This paper presents a comparison between the measured data and the finite element method (FEM) calculations, while taking into account 7 years of data collection and analyses. The first part of this paper concerns the SHM application. In the next part, which contains comparisons between forces in cables and temperature changes throughout the structure, the measured data are presented. The third part includes SHM-based calculations and simulations with a complex FEM model to check the measured data and to estimate future measurements. The last part contains a durability assessment calculation for the cable stays.

The assessment of dynamic performance of large-scale bridges typically relies on the deployment of wired instrumentation systems requiring direct contact with the tested structures. This can obstruct their operation and create unnecessary risks to the involved personnel and equipment. These problems can be readily avoided by using non-contact instrumentation systems. However, the cost of off-the-shelf commercial products often prevents their wide adoption in engineering practice. To this end, the dynamic performance of the biggest one-pylon cable-stayed bridge in Poland is investigated based on data from a consumer-grade digital camera and open access image-processing algorithms. The quality of these data is benchmarked against data obtained from conventional wired accelerometers and a high-end commercial optical motion capture system. Operational modal analysis is conducted to extract modal damping, which has a potential to serve as an indicator of structural health. The dynamic properties of the bridge are evaluated against the results obtained during a proof loading exercise undertaken prior to the bridge opening. It is shown that a vibration monitoring system based on consumer-grade digital camera can indeed provide an economically viable alternative to monitoring the complex time-evolving dynamic behaviour patterns of large-scale bridges.

In this paper, dynamic analyses of two untypical, modern footbridges made of glued-laminated timber are presented. One of them is among the longest cable-stayed bridges for pedestrians in the world, made of such a structural material. Both structures are qualified as having low sensitivity to vibrations. The results of numerical modal analysis using FEM and non-destructive experimental dynamic tests of investigated footbridges are compared. Important differences in obtained results are captured, which are identified as the positive effect in relation to design aspects. Moreover, the same in situ measurements confirm the high level of damping in footbridges made of glued-laminated wood, which is a very significant and distinguishing feature not commonly recognized. The study also calls attention to the choice of timber as an advisable material for footbridges. This is not only because of environmentally friendly and aesthetic reasons, but also due to providing highly satisfying vibration comfort for pedestrians.

The road and railway infrastructure in Poland has been intensively developed and modernized for the last years. Around 300 new bridges are built annually. Among the new structures there is a group of modern extradosed bridges. This paper presents examples of short-, medium- and long-span extradosed bridges designed and built in recent years in Poland. The following structures are described in details: - the first Polish extradosed bridge; - two-span landmark viaduct over motorway; - multi-span curved motorway bridge; - the longest Polish extradosed bridge; - tramway extradosed bridge; - conceptual designs. The paper is concluded with geometrical parameters characterising presented structures. The parameters are compared with values obtained for cable stayed bridges and extradosed bridges built worldwide.

The road infrastructure in Poland has been intensively developed and modernised over the last years. During the past decade more than 2500 new bridges have been built along the main roads and motorways, including several large multi-span structures with a length of more than 500 m. This paper describes the design and construction of the cable-stayed bridge in Wrocław and the extradosed bridge in Kwidzyn. Both structures are the largest concrete bridges built in Poland and are also among world leaders in their class. They can presently be considered to be the greatest achievements of Polish civil engineering. The Rędziński Bridge over the Odra River in Wrocław is a 612 m long cable-stayed bridge with two spans of 256 m suspended to a single 122 m high concrete pylon. The bridge in Kwidzyn is a 808 m long six-span extradosed bridge with two longest spans of 204 m. The paper concludes with a brief comparison of both structures including consumption of materials and costs.

Monitoring systems have given the possibility of varied and long-term observation of bridge structures. The paper prestents the analysis of temperature impact on various bridge elements. The data comes from three different large bridges in Poland, equipped with extensive monitoring systems, namely from an arch bridge in Puławy (built in 2008), cable-stayed bridge in Płock (built in 2005) and the cable-stayed bridge in Wrocław (built in 2011). After few years of observation an enormous and valuable database of measured parameters was stored. The analysis shows how temperature changes between individual bridge components (e.g. between decks, pylon and stay cables) affect the structure mechanical behaviour and whether the influence fulfil the standards’ recommendations. Due to various static schemes and materials used in the described bridges, individual and non-typical impact of thermal loads is expected.