Influence Factors Analysis on the Modal Characteristics of Irregularly-Shaped Bridges Based on a Free-Interface Mode Synthesis Algorithm

• Main Authors: Hanbing Liu, Mengsu Zhang, Xianqiang Wang, Shuai Tian, Yubo Jiao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-05-01
• Series: Algorithms
• Subjects: irregularly-shaped bridges; dynamic substructure; free interface modal synthesis method; design parameters; modal characteristics
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4893/10/2/62

In order to relieve traffic congestion, irregularly-shaped bridges have been widely used in urban overpasses. However, the analysis on modal characteristics of irregularly-shaped bridges is not exhaustive, and the effect of design parameters on modal characteristics will be deeply investigated in future studies. In this paper, a novel strategy based on a free-interface mode synthesis algorithm is proposed to evaluate the parameters’ effect on the modal characteristics of irregularly-shaped bridges. First, a complicated, irregularly-shaped bridge is divided into several substructures based on its properties. Then, the modal characteristics of the overall structure can be obtained, only by a few low-order modal parameters of each substructure, using a free-interface mode synthesis method. A numerical model of a typical irregularly-shaped bridge is employed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. Simulation results reveal that the free-interface mode synthesis method possesses favorable calculation accuracy for analyzing the modal characteristics of irregularly-shaped bridges. The effect of design parameters such as ramp curve radius, diaphragm beam stiffness, cross-section feature, and bearing conditions on the modal characteristics of an irregularly-shaped bridge is evaluated in detail. Analysis results can provide references for further research into and the design of irregularly-shaped bridges.