Dynamic Design Loads and Performance of a GFRP-SFRSCC Hybrid Footbridge Prototype

This paper describes the experimental and numerical studies developed to assess the dynamic behaviour of a glass fibre reinforced polymer-concrete hybrid footbridge under pedestrian excitation. The analyses include an experimental assessment of the modal properties and the measurement of the dynamic bridge response to group loads. The numerical modelling of pedestrian effects evidences the difficulty in reproducing the loads applied to the footbridge and the need to consider the third and fourth harmonics of the walking frequency in the applied loads to reproduce the measured response accurately. Furthermore, by comparison with the simulation results of pedestrian effects on an equivalent length structure made of steel, it is shown that the GFRP-concrete structure possesses a higher dissipation capacity and a more favourable dynamic behaviour.

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