• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 2019

This paper addresses the problem of damage detection in suspension bridge hangers, with an emphasis on the modal flexibility method. It aims at evaluating the capability and the accuracy of the modal flexibility method to detect and locate single and multiple damages in suspension bridge hangers, with different level of severity and various locations. The study is conducted numerically and experimentally on a laboratory suspension bridge mock-up. First, the covariance-driven stochastic subspace identification is used to extract the modal parameters of the bridge from experimental data, using only output measurements data from ambient vibration. Then, the method is demonstrated for several damage scenarios and compared against other classical methods, such as: Coordinate Modal Assurance Criterion (COMAC), Enhanced Coordinate Modal Assurance Criterion (ECOMAC), Mode Shape Curvature (MSC) and Modal Strain Energy (MSE). The paper demonstrates the relative merits and shortcomings of these methods which play a significant role in the damage detection ofsuspension bridges.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.73 no.6
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• pp.641-649
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• 2020

The determination of midtower longitudinal stiffness has become an essential component in the preliminary design of multi-tower suspension bridges. For a specific multi-tower suspension bridge, the midtower longitudinal stiffness must be controlled within a certain range to meet the requirements of sliding resistance coefficient and deflection-to-span ratio. This study presents a numerical method to divide different types of midtower and determine rational range of longitudinal stiffness for rigid midtower. In this method, influence curves of midtower longitudinal stiffness on sliding resistance coefficient and maximum vertical deflection-to-span ratio are first obtained from the finite element analysis. Then, different types of midtower are divided based on the regression analysis of influence curves. Finally, rational range for longitudinal stiffness of rigid midtower is derived. The Oujiang River North Estuary Bridge which is a three-tower four-span suspension bridge with two main spans of 800m under construction in China is selected as the subject of this study. This will be the first three-tower four-span suspension bridge with steel truss girders and concrete midtower in the world. The proposed method provides an effective and feasible tool for engineers to design midtower of multi-tower suspension bridges.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.263-276
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• 2009

This paper is intended to investigate interaction response of a train running over a suspension bridge undergoing support settlements. The suspension bridge is modeled as a single-span suspended beam with hinged ends and the train as successive moving oscillators with identical properties. To conduct this dynamic problem with non-homogeneous boundary conditions, this study first divides the total response of the suspended beam into two parts: the static and dynamic responses. Then, the coupled equations of motion for the suspended beam carrying multiple moving oscillators are transformed into a set of nonlinearly coupled generalized equations by Galerkin's method, and solved using the Newmark method with an incremental-iterative procedure including the three phases: predictor, corrector, and equilibrium-checking. Numerical investigations demonstrate that the present iterative technique is available in dealing with the dynamic interaction problem of vehicle/bridge coupling system and that the differential movements of bridge supports will significantly affect the dynamic response of the running vehicles but insignificant influence on the bridge response.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.9 no.1 s.32
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• pp.12-17
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• 2006

The bridge to be analyzed is a self-anchored suspension bridge which is constructed within the country. Forced vibration test was performed with oscillator for verification of safety, maintenance and management. In this study, the feasibility of deduction was verified with the modified analysis model by comparing natural frequency, natural mode and damping ratio of the real bridge, which are obtained from the vibration test of the whole bridge after construction of 3-dimensional self-anchored cable suspension bridge, with the eigenvalue of analytic computation model and evaluating them. As a result of study, the friction of bridge bearing must be considered to get the natural frequencies of flexural vibration, and evaluating the polar moment of inertia is critical factor in analysis modeling in case of torsional vibration. The logarithmic damping ratio of the test appeared to exceed the ordinary one assumed at the design phase.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.45-58
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• 1997

An analysis algorithm and a computer program have been developed to clarify the geometrically nonlinear response characteristics of a suspension bridge subject to the support excitation. The Finite Element procedures are utilized for the application to a self-anchored suspension bridge or to a mono-duo cable suspension bridge. The propagation of earthquake wave is simulated by taking a record as the input at the left anchorage of the bridge, and addign appropriate time delay to the other inputs for the purpose of considering the multi-support effects. According to the application for a mono-duo self-anchored suspension bridge, it has been found that the effects of nonlinear behavior and multi-support excitation are notable for this relatively short-spanned suspension bridge.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.421-447
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• 2004

This paper presents a time domain approach for predicting buffeting response of long suspension bridges under skew winds. The buffeting forces on an oblique strip of the bridge deck in the mean wind direction are derived in terms of aerodynamic coefficients measured under skew winds and equivalent fluctuating wind velocities with aerodynamic impulse functions included. The time histories of equivalent fluctuating wind velocities and then buffeting forces along the bridge deck are simulated using the spectral representation method based on the Gaussian distribution assumption. The self-excited forces on an oblique strip of the bridge deck are represented by the convolution integrals involving aerodynamic impulse functions and structural motions. The aerodynamic impulse functions of self-excited forces are derived from experimentally measured flutter derivatives under skew winds using rational function approximations. The governing equation of motion of a long suspension bridge under skew winds is established using the finite element method and solved using the Newmark numerical method. The proposed time domain approach is finally applied to the Tsing Ma suspension bridge in Hong Kong. The computed buffeting responses of the bridge under skew winds during Typhoon Sam are compared with those obtained from the frequency domain approach and the field measurement. The comparisons are found satisfactory for the bridge response in the main span.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.6 no.8
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• pp.905-920
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• 2010

Changes in temperature, loads and boundary conditions may have effects on the dynamic properties of large civil structures. Taking the Run Yang Suspension Bridge as an example, modal properties obtained from ambient vibration tests and from the structural health monitoring system of the bridge are used to identify and evaluate the modal parameter variability. Comparisons of these modal parameters reveal that several low-order modes experience a significant change in frequency from the completion of the bridge to its operation. However, the correlation analysis between measured modal parameters and the temperature shows that temperature has a slight influence on the low-order modal frequencies. Therefore, this paper focuses on the effects of the boundary conditions on the dynamic behaviors of the suspension bridge. An analytical model is proposed to perform a sensitivity analysis on modal parameters of the bridge concerning the stiffness of expansion joints located at two ends of bridge girders. It is concluded that the boundary conditions have a significant influence on the low-order modal parameters of the suspension bridge. In addition, the influence of vehicle load on modal parameters is also investigated based on the proposed model.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.669-677
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• 2011

The multi-span suspension bridge generally has more than three towers and two main spans. To economically and effectively design a multi-span suspension bridge, the proper stiffness ratio of the center tower to the side tower must be determined. This study was conducted to propose a method of figuring out briefly the structural behavior of the towers in a multi-span suspension bridge. In the equivalent suspension bridge model, the main cable of the multi-span suspension bridge is idealized as an equivalent cable spring, and the external loads of horizontal and vertical forces that were calculated using the tensile forces of the main cable were applied on top of the towers. The equilibrium equations of the equivalent multi-span suspension bridge model were derived and the equations were solved via nonlinear analysis. To verify the proposed method, a sample four-span suspension bridge with a main span length of 3,000 m was analyzed using thefinite element method. The displacements and moment reactions of each tower in the proposed method were compared with the FEM analysis results. Consequently, the results of the analysis of the equivalent suspension bridge model tended to be consistent with the results of the FEM analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.114-123
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• 2012

This study is aimed to assess the stability of cable bridge by determining the geometric shape of the suspension bridge among the domestic coastal structures in public use after their completion of construction and the displacement of the target suspension bridge after public use. For this purpose, this study calculated the length between pylon piers for each period, sag, sag ratio and the displacement of pylon. Compared to the management standards for each step across different pylon behaviors of the target suspension bridge, this study found that the target suspension bridge behaves stably within the maintenance standards. To identify the behaviors of a suspension bridge accurately, the priority is put on the determination of geometric shape. Therefore, it is required to determine the surveyed shape model on a regular basis across public use period and increased traffics, which is expected to contribute considerably to ensuring the stability of the suspension bridge in its maintenance.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.179-196
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• 2003

A long suspension bridge is often located within a unique wind environment, and strong winds at the site seldom attack the bridge at a right angle to its long axis. This paper thus investigates the buffeting response of long suspension bridges to skew winds. The conventional buffeting analysis in the frequency domain is first improved to take into account skew winds based on the quasi-steady theory and the oblique strip theory in conjunction with the finite element method and the pseudo-excitation method. The aerodynamic coefficients and flutter derivatives of the Tsing Ma suspension bridge deck under skew winds, which are required in the improved buffeting analysis, are then measured in a wind tunnel using specially designed test rigs. The field measurement data, which were recorded during Typhoon Sam in 1999 by the Wind And Structural Health Monitoring System (WASHMS) installed on the Tsing Ma Bridge, are analyzed to obtain both wind characteristics and buffeting responses. Finally, the field measured buffeting responses of the Tsing Ma Bridge are compared with those from the computer simulation using the improved method and the aerodynamic coefficients and flutter derivatives measured under skew winds. The comparison is found satisfactory in general.