PROBABILISTIC METHODS FOR DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF FLOATING BRIDGES

Probabilistic methods for dynamic analysis of floating bridges exposed to short-crested sea waves are presented. The sea surface is idealized as a three-dimensional zero mean ergodic Gaussian field from which the wave loading process is derived using linear potential theory. The structural idealization is based on the finite element method. Structural response is obtained both in the frequency domain using the spectral approach and in the time domain by a sample path approach using Monte Carlo simulation. To exemplify the theory, results are presented for a 1200 metre long, continuous curved floating bridge. The report contains the paper presented at "European Simulation Meeting, Modelling and Simulation of Large-Scale Structural Systems", Capri, Italy, September 24-25, 1981. (Author/TRRL)