Finite element analysis of the Golden Gate Bridge

Abstract

As a miracle of bridge engineering, it is meaningful to analyze the stability of the Golden Gate Bridge. This paper focuses on the finite element method to analyze the Golden Gate Bridge’s performance on loading. In this work, ANSYS is used to build a simplified model of the Golden Gate Bridge without cables. There are six modes of the deformation of the bridge, and there are six different frequencies. The natural frequency of the bridge is 0.055Hz. Because this simplified model does not have cables to reduce the deformation, the average frequency is 0.07737 Hz which is 0.02237 Hz higher than the natural frequency. Moreover, after analyzing the harmonic response, the largest equivalent stress is 1.5487e7 Pa at joints of the bridge when the frequency is 0.0268 Hz and the sweep phase is -56.649 degrees. As a result, the analysis of the bridge based on the models in Ansys clearly shows the stability of the bridge.