Numerical Analysis of Highly Nonlinear Effects in Bridge Dynamics

Structural engineering typically tries to linearise physical processes in order to simplify their analysis. Whilst this is often permissible without a substantial reduction in accuracy, numerous phenomena are in fact highly nonlinear and cannot be linearised without sacrificing accuracy and, in a structural design context, structural safety. Many of the most complex such phenomena occur in bridge dynamics and this paper outlines some work in relation to nonlinear numerical analyses of dynamic interactions. Examples discussed are the process of lifting a bridge segment from a floating barge and that of nonlinear cable oscillations.