Task Group 6.8
Mechanical Adaptivity for Sustainable Structural Lifecycle This Task Group will get activated in April 2026. Mission Statement/Objectives The internal force distribution of a structure changes from the moment it enters service. Creep, differential settlement, temperature cycles, material degradation, and evolving loads continuously shift forces away from the as-designed state. In practice, engineers already intervene — shimming bearings, re-tensioning cables, adjusting anchor forces — yet these actions are carried out with little knowledge of the actual force state. Without reliable methods to measure the true distribution of constraining forces at bearings, cable anchors, and other critical boundary points, every intervention is guided by conservative assumptions rather than measured reality. The consequence is a cycle of over-conservative maintenance, premature component replacement, and avoidable consumption of materials and carbon throughout the infrastructure lifecycle. This Task Group introduces the concept of Mechanical Adaptivity — the ability to continuously know and, when necessary, actively correct the force state at a structure's boundary constraints over its full service life. Mechanical adaptivity progresses through three tiers: (1) reliable measurement of constraining forces under long-term service loads with full metrological traceability; (2) evidence-based evaluation of whether the evolving force distribution remains acceptable; and (3) active, data-driven redistribution of internal forces through smart constraining devices to restore or optimize the structural state. Together, these tiers move infrastructure management from reactive repair toward proactive, informed lifecycle stewardship. Mechanical adaptivity is a direct enabler of structural sustainability. When the true force state is known, interventions can be precisely timed and accurately sized — extending service life, avoiding unnecessary replacements, and reducing whole-life material consumption and carbon emissions. The Task Group will develop the methodological framework for mechanical adaptivity, advance its enabling technologies — smart constraining devices, in-situ metrological calibration protocols for long-term force monitoring, and real-time force-feedback control strategies — and work with other Commission 6 Task Groups to quantify its contribution to lifecycle carbon reduction and climate-resilient infrastructure management. Scope & Limitation The scope centers on structural boundary constraints — bearings, cable anchors, and high-capacity load-bearing connections — where constraining forces govern the global distribution of internal forces across the structure. These are the points where force changes first manifest, where measurement is most meaningful, and where adaptive intervention is technically feasible. The research addresses three dimensions. Conceptual: establishing a framework that defines the three tiers of mechanical adaptivity (measurement, evaluation, active control) and the performance criteria for each. Technological: advancing smart constraining devices that integrate force sensing with precision adjustment; defining the metrological requirements for long-term constraint force monitoring, including standardized in-situ calibration protocols to maintain traceability under sustained service loads; and developing force-feedback-based control strategies for informed redistribution of internal forces. Sustainability: quantifying how mechanical adaptivity extends service life, reduces intervention frequency, and lowers whole-life carbon emissions compared to conventional conservative maintenance approaches. The project covers both bridges and buildings and adopts a full-lifecycle perspective without distinguishing between new construction and existing structures. Activities aim to harmonize practices across North American (AASHTO), European (Eurocodes/LSD), and Asian frameworks. The scope excludes general environmental sensing and passive monitoring systems that lack a defined path toward adaptive structural intervention. Expected Project Output White Paper on Mechanical Adaptivity for Structural Sustainability: A comprehensive document establishing the three-tier framework for mechanical adaptivity, reviewing the current state and gaps of enabling technologies (smart constraining devices, constraint force monitoring with in-situ calibration, active control strategies), and presenting a preliminary ISO-level metrological standard for in-situ calibration of structural load monitoring devices under sustained service loads. The white paper will include case-based illustrations of how mechanical adaptivity reduces lifecycle carbon emissions and extends structural service life. Scientific Publications in SEI and Peer-Reviewed Journals: 2–3 papers in Structural Engineering International (SEI) and relevant international journals, covering the theoretical framework of mechanical adaptivity, metrological requirements for reliable long-term force evaluation, and the quantitative link between adaptive intervention strategies and lifecycle carbon reduction. Special Sessions and Webinars: 1–2 Special Sessions at IABSE congresses or symposia and 1–2 IABSE Webinars to present findings, build awareness of the mechanical adaptivity concept, and collaborate with other Commission 6 Task Groups working on climate adaptation, carbon footprint assessment, and carbon neutrality. Start Date: June 2026
| Chair Members Paolo Gardoni |
