Footbridges. Dynamic Design – Selected Problems

Modern footbridges create challenge in esthetic and structural design. Breaking the proven canons is a recipe for architectural success. However esthetic form has to be also a functional pedestrian bridge. Therefore a good FEM modeling is a key element in engineering part of design. The paper presents selected problems related to the modeling of the dynamic construction of footbridges. Several basic dynamic problems concerning numerical methods in analysis and preliminary design of structure are discussed:

• Numerical models of structure and discussion of their effectiveness.
• Time-step Newmark method. Validation of parameters of method (time-step, damping).
• Non linear geometric effects in dynamics.
• Vertical and horizontal excitation - cause of vibrations.
• Intelligent load.
• Dynamic tuning of structure.

On the base of presented set of actions several lively footbridges were analyzed, designed and constructed. Dynamic side test was often a final confirmation of the assumptions and methods predicted in designing process.

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