Experimental and analytical vibration serviceability assessment of an in-service footbridge

This paper discusses vibration serviceability assessment of a highly trafficked local footbridge based on the experimental tests and analytical studies. The selected bridge is an approximately 60 m (196 ft) long multi-span steel structure with a continuous reinforced concrete slab supported on two longitudinal steel girders. The experimental study consists of ambient vibration and pedestrian interaction tests to describe the dynamic characteristics of the selected bridge structure. The fundamental frequency of the bridge in the vertical direction obtained through ambient vibration tests was within the critical range described by available design guidelines. This required further analysis to assess the performance of the bridge relative to the maximum acceleration thresholds. In addition to the peak dynamic response obtained from the pedestrian interaction tests, peak acceleration values were calculated analytically based on current design guidelines and compared to the comfort limits. Results from both experimental and analytical studies suggest that the footbridge possesses satisfactory serviceability performance under low and dense traffic conditions, but the comfort level under very dense traffic loads was classified as minimum according to the results of the analytical calculations.