Assessment of human-induced vibrations of a cable-stayed footbridge

Abstract

The primary purpose of this research is the evaluation of human-induced vibrations of a cable-stayed footbridge. The cable-stayed pedestrian bridge with total length of the span equal to 46.90 m located in Czestochowa (Southern Poland) was chosen as a case study. The footbridge consists of two spans (21.10 m and 25.80 m). A three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model of the footbridge was prepared with the ABAQUS software program. The dynamic properties of the structure, i.e. its natural frequencies, modes shapes and damping ratios, were estimated on the basis of the in situ tests results as well as numerical analysis. For the validation of the modal models the modal assurance criterion (MAC) theory was applied. In the next stage of the investigation the dynamic response of the structure to human-induced loading was evaluated. Finally, the vibration comfort criteria for the footbridge were checked.