Impact Effect of Moving Vehicles on Bridges

Impact Effect of Moving Vehicles on Bridges

In recent years, rapid urbanization associated with large urban population growth has placed significant demands on urban transport infrastructure. As a result, more and more elevated highways, usually using long piers, have been erected in urban areas to ease urban traffic pressures. However, the high volume traffic on such highway bridges can cause significant vibrations. To study the effects of vibrations caused by bridge traffic, this study monitored the acceleration of an isolated bridge for twenty-four hours. The fast Fourier transform method and the system implementation method are then used to analyze the acceleration measurements and thus to calibrate the system parameters of the bridge and the building. Additionally, the displacement from the deck to the pier and the deck acceleration were measured to investigate how vehicle transport affects the structural performance of the deck and pier. The results can be used as a future reference for improving vibration problems caused by bridge traffic.