Dynamic analysis of a pedestrian walkway, University of British Columbia, Canada

This paper presents a two-part study examining the effect of age, and the effect of temperature on a pedestrian walkway. Two sets of ambient vibration tests were performed on the walkway at the Civil and Mechanical Engineering building, UBC, one in 1994 and the other in 2001. Each time the tests were performed to determine its mode shapes and natural frequencies. The testing done in 1994 utilized the Hybrid Bridge Evaluation System developed at UBC. This test captured the first twelve vibration modes of the bridge. The tests performed in 2001 used a similar data acquisition system, as well as similar test setups, but applied new, more sophisticated software to analyse the data. The 2001 experimental program included two different tests. The first was performed on a day having normal weather conditions, intended to compare the 1994 and 2001 results, investigating any changes in the dynamic properties over seven years of use. The results were compared using the 1994 results. The second test was performed on a day with significantly higher temperatures, with the intent of investigating the effect of temperature on the behaviour of the bridge, as well as the performance of the experimental methods during those conditions.