Vandal Loads and Induced Vibrations on a Footbridge
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 16, Issue 3
Abstract
The paper describes a study to characterize intentional human dynamic loads (vandal loads) and their induced effects on a footbridge. A numerical model to characterize the dynamic behavior of the footbridge has been developed, is experimentally validated, and is used to numerically simulate the response induced by groups of pedestrians synchronized at critical bridge frequencies. The vandal load associated with a single pedestrian is characterized and compared with definitions in the literature. The response is then calculated considering the measured load and compared with the measured response to the excitation induced by a single pedestrian or a group with varying dimensions. The definition of a general load model for vandal excitation, including a tentative definition for synchronization is discussed.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful for the collaboration of FEUP students in the performance of the dynamic tests. They thank the data from the Wroclaw footbridge provided by Jaroslaw Zwolski from Wroclaw University. The support provided by the European Commission in the context of the European Research Project “Advanced Load Models for Synchronous Pedestrian Excitation and Optimized Design Guidelines for Steel Footbridges (SYNPEX)” is fully acknowledged.
References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 16 • Issue 3 • May 2011
Pages: 375 - 382
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 18, 2009
Accepted: Jul 8, 2010
Published online: Oct 30, 2010
Published in print: May 1, 2011
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