Vehicle-Bridge Interaction

With the emergence of high-speed trains, dynamic loads on bridges have changed. A method for estimation of the time-dependent vehicle-bridge interaction forces has been developed in the present paper. The increase (or decrease) of the bridge response due to dynamic effects is determined.

The moving constant-force problem is reviewed in some detail. Results obtained by the present method for the moving-mass problem are compared with existing experimental and theoretical results as reported in the literature. A parametric study of bridge responses is made. The parameters varied are the vehicle speed, the ratio of vehicle mass to bridge mass, the ratio of vehicle eigenfrequency to bridge eigenfrequency, and the relative damping of the vehicle. Finally, the influence of an initial bridge deflection is discussed.