橋梁與軌道工程研究中心

category

Bridges are critical infrastructure in civil engineering, representing a significant facet of public works. Bridge engineering encompasses nearly all specialties within the civil engineering discipline. In 1995, the Department of Civil Engineering at National Central University established the "Bridge Engineering Research Center" with the goal of integrating expertise in structures, geotechnics, hydraulics, materials, transportation, and construction management to advance research related to bridge engineering. Recognizing the increasing importance of railway infrastructure to national development, as evidenced by the government's substantial investment in upgrading Taiwan Railways and various municipal metro systems through the Forward-Looking Infrastructure Development Program, the center has amassed considerable expertise and experience in railway engineering. To better position itself for expanded involvement in railway infrastructure research and development, the center was renamed the "Bridge and Railway Engineering Research Center" in 2017. Serving as a platform for fostering collaboration among industry, government, and academia, the center plays a key role in education and training, cultivating scientific talent in bridge and railway engineering while enhancing Taiwan's international standing in these fields through technological and academic advancements. At the same time, the center integrates scientific principles from civil, mechanical, electrical, geophysical, chemical, and materials engineering to develop innovative technologies for bridge and railway engineering. It conducts long-term investigations and monitoring of bridges and railways nationwide while establishing a comprehensive national data management system for these structures. By leveraging industry-academia collaboration and academic research, the center addresses challenges in bridge and railway engineering, leading to the development of advanced engineering technologies and management strategies. These innovations have been published and shared as references for government agencies, industry, and academic institutions.
Currently, some aging bridges in Taiwan are experiencing issues such as cracking and damage due to environmental weathering, corrosion, earthquakes, and traffic overloading, which pose significant risks to public safety. Consequently, for both aging and newly constructed bridges, research into damage detection, evaluation methods, reinforcement design and construction, and mechanical analysis is indispensable. These efforts form a critical component of bridge construction, maintenance, and management to ensure structural integrity and safety.

Development and Research Objectives

(I) Analysis and Design of Bridge and Railway Structures and Foundation Systems	1. Revision of current design standards. 2. Determination of design seismic forces and design loads. 3. Research on structural and foundation system simulations. 4. Development of dynamic analysis methods. 5. Design of structural resilience. 6. Establishment of computer-aided design systems for bridge and railway engineering.
(II) Research and Development of Bridge and Railway Construction Techniques	Given the considerations for construction convenience and optimal economic benefits, this focuses on addressing various geological and geographical factors. By integrating engineering aesthetics with theories and technologies from civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering disciplines, we aim to develop new construction methods, machinery, equipment, and monitoring systems for bridges and railways.
(III) Establishment of Automated Monitoring and Early Warning Systems for Bridge and Railway Structural Behavior	This involves designing and implementing systems for investigating, monitoring, and analyzing the physical properties of bridge and railway structures. The systems aim to comprehensively monitor and study deformations and stress changes caused by self-weight, live loads, seismic forces, wind forces, hydrology, geology, material shrinkage and creep, damage, and temperature variations. The findings can be fed back to the original design units to serve as a basis for ensuring driving safety and planning maintenance and repair activities.
(IV) Damage Diagnosis and Service Life Assessment for Bridge and Railway Structures	This focuses on developing and establishing a comprehensive damage assessment system for bridges and railways. It includes defining damage indicators and creating system identification or non-destructive testing methods to diagnose the current condition of these structures. Additionally, based on monitoring data and original design specifications, combined with mechanics, material science, and fatigue analysis methods, the system assesses the remaining load capacity or service life of structures. During the development of diagnostic and evaluation methods, dynamic failure experiments on structures are conducted and integrated with theoretical analysis and monitoring data to create a complete damage diagnosis database.
(V) Research on Maintenance and Reinforcement of Bridges and Railways	For bridges and railways, comprehensive databases should be established encompassing design, construction, and maintenance records, fundamental structural parameters, dynamic characteristics, and relevant hydrological and geological information. These databases should be developed using optimal methodologies to serve as essential references for future damage assessments, reinforcement, and maintenance work.

Location

Engineering Building 1, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

Contact Number

(03) 4227151 Ext. 34145