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Integrated Static–dynamic Assessment and Field-validated External Prestressing Strengthening of an Aging Steel Railway Bridge Cover

Integrated Static–dynamic Assessment and Field-validated External Prestressing Strengthening of an Aging Steel Railway Bridge

Open Access
|May 2026

Figures & Tables

Figure 1:

Cibatu - Garut Railway Map

Figure 2:

(a) Aerial view of the bridge, (b) Steel structure of the bridge

Figure 3:

Top view of the bridge

Figure 4:

CC206 locomotive used in the load testing program

Figure 5:

Static load scheme applied to Span 2 of the bridge

Figure 6:

(a) Installation of the LVDT sensor on the bridge superstructure; (b) Installation of the strain gauge sensor on the bridge superstructure

Figure 7:

Installation of accelerometer sensors on the bridge structure

Figure 8:

Three-dimensional model of bridge structure

Figure 9:

Top view of the bridge structure model

Figure 10:

Deflection at midspan (1/2L) of Span 2 under service load: ‒21.88 mm

Figure 11:

Deflection of the bridge structure under locomotive static loading

Figure 12:

Measured elongation (ΔL) distribution of the Span-2 bridge girder under static locomotive loading

Figure 13:

Stress distribution of the Span-2 bridge girder derived from strain gauge measurements

Figure 14:

Dominant vertical (z-Direction) frequency of the bridge girders: (a) Time-domain response; (b) Frequency-domain response

Figure 15:

Dominant vertical mode (Mode 15) of the bridge structure with a frequency of 14.98 Hz

Figure 16:

Capacity ratios of the bridge structure elements

Figure 17:

Side view of the external prestressing reinforcement model of the bridge structure

Figure 18:

Midspan (1/2L) deflection of the bridge structure after external prestressing under the load combination 1.0D + 1.0SD + 1.0PR

Figure 19:

Midspan (1/2L) deflection of the bridge structure after external prestressing under the load combination 1.0D + 1.0SD + 1.0LL + 1.0PR

Figure 20:

Dominant vertical (z-Direction) vibration mode (Mode 45) of the bridge structure after external prestressing and plate reinforcement, with a frequency of 17.07 Hz

Figure 21:

Capacity ratios of bridge elements after external prestressing and plate reinforcement

Comparison of midspan deflections before and after external prestressing

DescriptionLoad combinationDeflection structure [mm]
1/2L
Field testing1.0 D + 1.0 SD + 1.0 LL−11.30
External prestressing reinforcement1.0 D + 1.0 SD + 1.0 PR11.82
1.0 D + 1.0 SD + 1.0 LL + 1.0 PR−3.38

Calculated strain values of the Span-2 bridge girder based on strain gauge measurements

Field testing schemeStatic load [ton]Testing pointsStrain [mm/mm]
Static load B290,00SG1 (1/4L) B2 RB0.00026
SG2 (1/2L) B2 RB0.00019
SG3 (3/4L) B2 RB0.00056
SG4 (1/4L) B2 RA−0.00062
SG5 (1/2L) B2 RA−0.00051
SG6 (3/4L) B2 RA−0.00050

Modelling criteria for bridge structure reinforcement

Tendon diameter43.575 mm
Tendon area1491.334 mm2
Strand type7-wire strand
Dimensions of deviator profileH 200.200.8.12
Prestressing force1942 kN

Capacity ratios of bridge elements after external prestressing and plate reinforcement

No.Structural elementsProfil typeCapacity ratioAllowable capacity ratioDescription
1Longitudinal girderWF 425.170.18.100.5701.0OK
2Transverse girder870.220.10.100.9751.0OK
3Bottom bracing2L 60.60.80.6771.0OK
4Top BracingL 55.55.80.2911.0OK
5Top chord2UNP 220.80.100.3341.0OK
6Bottom chord2UNP 220.80.100.9491.0OK
7Vertical element2UNP 220.80.100.2351.0OK
8Diagonal element 12UNP 220.80.10.100.3321.0OK
9Diagonal element 22UNP 220.75.10.100.3221.0OK
10Diagonal element 32UNP 220.65.10.100.0441.0OK
11DeviatorH 200.200.8.120.5421.0OK

CC206 Locomotive specifications

Technical data
LocomotiveCC 206 13 21
Power sourceDiesel electric
ModelGE CM20EMP
Wheel specifications
Whyte notation0-6-6-0
AAR wheel setupC-C
UIC classificationCo’Co’
Dimensions
Track width1.067 m (3 ft 6 in)
Length15.849 m (17 yd 1 ft 0 in)
Width2.743 m (3 yd 0 ft 0 in)
Maximum height3.695 m (4 yd 0 ft 0 in)
Axle load15 tons (15 tons length; 17 tons short)
Weight
Empty weight88.2 tons (86.8 tons length; 97.2 tons short)
Ready weight90 tons (89 tons length; 99 tons short)
Performance
Maximum speed160 km/h (44 m/s) Original Speed; 120 km/h (33 m/s) Operational Speed
Engine power1.680 kW (2.250 hp)
Tractive force248 kN (56.000 lbf)

Demand-to-capacity ratios of structural elements in Span 2 under governing load combinations

No.Structural elementsProfil typeCapacity ratioAllowable capacity ratioDescription
1Longitudinal girderWF 425.170.18.100.5971.0OK
2Transverse girder870.220.10.101.6831.0Not OK
3Bottom bracing2L 60.60.81.0451.0Not OK
4Top bracingL 55.55.80.5791.0OK
5Top chord2UNP 220.80.100.6971.0OK
6Bottom chord2UNP 220.80.102.8561.0Not OK
7Vertical element2UNP 220.80.100.6201.0OK
8Diagonal element 12UNP 220.80.10.100.5711.0OK
9Diagonal element 22UNP 220.75.10.100.4761.0OK
10Diagonal element 32UNP 220.65.10.100.1221.0OK

Field vs_ FEM comparison

ParameterField measurementFEM predictionDifference [%]
Midspan deflection [mm]−11.30−21.8848.4%
Dominant frequency [Hz]14.6514.982.25%

Dimension of bridge structure

No.Bridge Structure (A)SpanProfil typeTruss Structure (B)Profil type
1Longitudinal girderS1 & S3Steel joist 970.250.10.10Top & bottom chord2UNP 220.80.10
2Longitudinal girderS2WF 425.170.18.10Vertical member2UNP 220.80.10
3Transverse girder (top)S1 & S32L 75.75.8Diagonal 12UNP 220.80.10
4Transverse girder (bottom)S1 & S3UNP 140.60.10Diagonal 22UNP 200.75.10.10
5Transverse girder (mid)S1 & S3L 75.75.8Diagonal 32UNP 200.65.10.10
6Bracing (end)S1 & S32L 75.75.8--
7Bracing (bottom)S1 & S3L 75.75.8--
8Transverse girderS2Steel joist 870.220.10.10--
9Bracing (bottom)S22L 60.60.8--
10Bracing (top)S2L 55.55.8--

Bridge data

Bridge typeGirder and truss bridges
LocatedPasirjengkol – Wanaraja
Bridge length41.055 m
Bridge width1.30 m; 3.60 m; 1.30 m
Width between rails1.20 m
Number of spans3 spans
Span configuration9.485 m; 21.930 m; 9.635 m
Bottom structure typeStone masonry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cee-2026-0111 | Journal eISSN: 2199-6512 | Journal ISSN: 1336-5835
Language: English
Submitted on: Mar 4, 2026
Accepted on: Mar 31, 2026
Published on: May 22, 2026
Published by: University of Žilina
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2026 Sumargo Sumargo, Mardiana Oesman, Fachmi Fadli, published by University of Žilina
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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