Serviceability assessment of lively skywalk footbridge under dynamic loadings of human motions in the vadodara metropolitan area

Abstract

Urbanisation and increased pedestrian traffic in metropolitan areas necessitate the construction of skywalk footbridges. This study focuses on the serviceability assessment of the lively skywalk footbridge at Vadodara Railway Station, which experiences significant pedestrian footfall during peak hours, potentially leading to vibration issues. The objective of this study is to evaluate the dynamic performance of skywalks under various human-induced loads via finite element analysis (FEA) and field measurements. Finite element analysis revealed that the bridge’s first natural frequency is 1.8652 Hz, which is within the range of pedestrian-induced frequencies, potentially causing resonance. The maximum vertical displacement under running conditions reached 21.4527 mm, and the peak vertical acceleration was 0.8474 m/s², exceeding the comfort limit of 0.5 m/s² per Eurocode 1 standards. Field measurements confirmed the numerical findings, with similar displacement and acceleration values observed. The study concludes that skywalks do not meet serviceability criteria under dynamic pedestrian loads, particularly during high-traffic periods. To address these concerns, the implementation of vibration mitigation measures, such as tuned mass dampers (TMDs), is recommended to improve the bridge’s serviceability and ensure pedestrian comfort.