Non-linear chaotic analysis of bridge health monitoring information based on phase space correlation dimension

This paper presents an analysis of the nonlinear characteristics of a bridge structure and the chaos of BHM(bridge health monitoring) information. Chongqing Masangxi bridge´s BHM information is analyzed by using phase space delay time with C-C and correlation dimension with G_P algorithm. The results show that the correlation dimension of the monitoring information is non-integeral and greater than 2, which proves that the bridge structure is in the chaos. Meanwhile, with the evolution of time, the correlation dimension varies in different key sections of bridge structure, and at a specified time the correlation dimension is the smallest at mid-span section. These findings lay a solid foundation for the further development of bridge safety assessment and prediction when non-linear chaotic theory is utilized to analyze the bridge health monitoring information.