Dynamic Considerations in Case of Footbridges with Elevators

During the last two decades, there has been a significant increase of the number of footbridges including elevators. This is a very interesting solution to reduce the space of the lateral accesses to the bridge and to increase the comfort of the users, especially in case of handicapped users. In addition, the progressive reduction of the costs of the elevators has helped its use.

However, it is necessary to take into account the dynamic forces induced by the machinery, in order to achieve an adequate comfort level and to avoid resonance phenomena.

This paper shows the dynamic testing carried out on the “Zarautz Bridge”, placed in San Sebastián (Spain).

The results show that elevator provokes a vibration in the structure that can be measured by the sensors. During starting and stopping, impact loads appear and provoke and small-in-amplitude free vibration of the footbridge.

In this particular case, elevator does not provoke no comfort problems to the pedestrians. However, we should take the interaction footbridge-elevator into account during the design process, in order to prevent malfunctions of the structure.

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