Wind induced vibration analysis of composite footbridge

Abstract

In the work, we describe a simplified method for numerical analysis of a FRP composite footbridge in the field of wind induced vibrations. We consider a simply supported structure with a span length of 16 m and U-shape cross-section. Firstly, a two dimensional flow analysis is performed of the fixed bridge cross-section which is subjected to a lateral wind action with 10 m/s velocity. Calculations are performed using ANSYSSYSSYS FLUENT 14 software. Results of the flow analysis (Strouhal’s number) are compared with the results presented in a monograph by A. Flaga, entitled Inżynieria Wiatrowa. Podstawy i zastosowania (Wind Engineering. The bases and applications) (in Polish), Arkady, Warszawa, 2008, in order to validate calculations. After that, a three dimensional spatial model of the footbridge is built in ABAQUS 6.12-3 finite element method software. A modal dynamics problem is solved, where the loading conditions are adopted on the basis of the flow analysis and applied as an evenly distributed pressure on the bridge deck surface. Finally, the users’ vibration comfort criterion is checked for the considered structure.[b]Keywords[/b]: composite shell footbridge, wind flow, modal method, footbridges vibrations

Keywords

• composite shell footbridge
• Wind flow
• modal method
• footbridges vibrations