The Z24 bridge, built between 1961 and 1963, spanned the A1 Bern-Zurich motorway and linked Koppigen with Utzenstorf. The three-span structure with spans of approximately 14, 30 and 14 m crossed the A1 at a slightly oblique angle. The superstructure consisted of a two-cell closed box girder with tendons in the three webs. The condition of the bridge was relatively good but the bridge had to be demolished to allow the construction of new railway tracks.

Within the SIMCES project, the influence of the environment on the dynamic characteristics (natural frequencies and mode shapes) was investigated, as well as the changes of the dynamic characteristics due to progressive damage tests (PDT).

It was the aim to provide an experimental basis for a feasibility proof of the SHM method. Vibration measurements prior to and after a damage scenario should allow conclusions to be drawn about the possibility of identifying damage from changes in dynamic characteristics.

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