Serviceability analysis of a cable-supported footbridge subjected to human-induced loads

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to obtain the response time history curves of vertical and lateral acceleration in the span of the main beam under different loads through the finite element time-history analysis method, so as to realize the Serviceability Analysis of a Cable-Supported Footbridge Subjected to Human-Induced Loads, taking the long-span cable-supported footbridge over Dongtan River as an example.

Design/methodology/approach

The finite element method is used for analysis of the footbridge.

Findings

It is found that under the condition of low-density pedestrians walking freely, the response of human vertical vibration acceleration and the load conditions of pedestrian overpasses cannot meet the requirements of normal use. Therefore, the vertical acceleration of the footbridge should be designed to reduce vibration. Under these two loading conditions, the lateral acceleration response meets the requirements of normal use.

Originality/value

On the basis of summarizing the research at home and abroad, the analysis of human-induced vibration is mainly considered from two aspects: frequency regulation and dynamic response control. The walking load models mainly include Fourier series model, self-excitation model, impulse model, stochastic model and more; the crowd load models are divided into groups: low-density crowd walking freely, high-density crowd flowing and more. Therefore, it is very important to calculate the structural vibration response in the design of long-span cable-supported footbridges under pedestrian excitation to meet comfort requirements.

Citation

Li, Z., Li, D., Lu, Y., Cheng, K. and Wu, Q. (2020), "Serviceability analysis of a cable-supported footbridge subjected to human-induced loads", International Journal of Structural Integrity, Vol. 11 No. 3, pp. 497-513. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSI-09-2019-0092