# US 10,120,835 B2 · Load rating of bridges, including substructure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,120,835 B2 - Document ID: US10120835B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/665,299 - Filed: 2015-03-23 - Published: 2015-10-08 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-08 - Assignees: GCI, Inc. - Applicants: Sayed Mourad Sayed; Hisham Nassim Sunna; Pamela Ruth Moore - Inventors: Sayed Mourad Sayed; Hisham Nassim Sunna; Pamela Ruth Moore - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120835B2 ## CPC - G06F 17/10: Complex mathematical operations {(function generation by table look-up G06F1/03; evaluation of elementary functions by calculation G06F7/544)} - G01M 5/0008: {of bridges} - G01N 3/00: Investigating strength properties of solid materials by application of mechanical stress - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract For bridges over waterways which are susceptible to scour, the load carrying capacity of the substructure may be reduced by scour. These bridges must be evaluated for reduced load rating and/or posting limits. Here, the substructure load rating is used in connection with calculating the bridge load rating. This is often limited by the substructure load carrying capacity and the tolerable deformation. Thus, bridges impacted by scour need to be judged based on both the superstructure and substructure components. The system/process to assess the substructure load rating uses an analytical method which combines numerical methods and empirical calculations to predict the behavior of a bridge's superstructure and substructure. Limited instrumentation is installed at critical locations on the bridge. The measurements are then used to verify and refine predictions to arrive at a substructure load rating which is usable with the superstructure load rating to define a safe load carrying capacity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for live load rating of pile-supported bridges with known or unknown embedment depth using a hybrid analytical system, comprised of: determining a pile embedment of a pile supported bridge; using at least one of displacement gauges, stress sensors or strain sensors on at least one of piles or other substructure elements to determine a substructure load rating as vehicular traffic loads the bridge; using at least one of strain sensors or load cells at measurement locations on bridge superstructure elements to determine a superstructure load rating as vehicular traffic loads the bridge, wherein determining superstructure load rating, comprises applying a factor related to monitoring duration and bridge span length and continuity to relate a measured response to a response caused by a rating vehicle; calculating an overall bridge load rating by combining the substructure and the superstructure load ratings; and outputting the overall bridge load rating. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the pile embedment, the method further comprises using a Static/Back-Calculation for determining an estimated pile embedment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein for determining pile embedment, the method further comprises applying specific safety factors or load factors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein for determining pile embedment, the method further comprises applying specific resistance factors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein for determining pile embedment, the method further comprises applying specific geotechnical capacity criteria. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein for determining pile embedment, the method further comprises applying specific deformation criteria. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of monitoring systems for measuring scour. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein for determining substructure load rating, the method further comprises applying deformation criteria for inventory load rating. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein for determining substructure load rating, the method further comprises applying deformation criteria for operating load rating. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein for determining substructure load rating, the method further comprises applying a live load to a soil-structure system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein for determining substructure load rating, the method further comprises computation of displacement under the load. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein for determining superstructure load rating, the method further comprises applying rating factors for specific superstructure elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A system for carrying out the method of claim 1, comprising signal conditioning and data recording/reduction devices configured for receiving data from the at least one of displacement gauges, stress sensors or strain sensors and the at least one of strain sensors or load cells and calculating the bridge load rating. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising scour detection devices positioned at measurement locations in a waterway around the substructure.