Field measurement and dynamic analysis of a steel truss railway bridge
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Date
Authors
Shibeshi, Rahel
Roth, C.P. (Chris)
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South African Institution of Civil Engineering
Abstract
In this study a dynamic analysis of a 77-year-old single-span steel truss railway bridge was
carried out. The study was approached by three different methods – field measurement,
modal analysis using a three-dimensional finite element model of the bridge, and a simple
generalised single degree of freedom (SDOF) analysis. Field measurement was conducted using
accelerometers and displacement transducers, which were mounted on special sections fixed
to an adjacent bridge. The finite element models of the bridge were prepared using beam
and shell elements. The dynamic responses studied include the displacement, acceleration
and natural frequency of the bridge. The results showed that the generalised SDOF model,
with simple addition of the effects of each axle, provided reasonably accurate displacements
compared to the measured values. The generalised SDOF model, finite element model with
beam elements and finite element model with shell elements also gave reasonably accurate
estimates for the natural frequency of the bridge.
Description
Keywords
Railway bridge, Finite element modelling, Field measurement, Dynamic analysis, Steel truss bridge
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Shibeshi, R & Roth, C 2016, 'Field measurement and dynamic analysis of a steel truss railway bridge', Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering, vol. 58, no. 3, pp. 28-36.