Measuring Trunnion Friction Forces on Tainter Gates

By measuring the forces in the primary strut members using strain transducers, the resisting moment (friction) at the trunnion connections can be directly quantified.  In less than a day, an engineer can have the proper data to evaluate the integrity of the structure.  This in turn allows each gate to be evaluated individually at a relatively inexpensive cost. Comparison of data from similar gates can help determine an average friction force to be expected and help locate any units that may be discrepant.