INVESTIGATION OF PEDESTRIAN WALKING LOADS ON A CABLE STAYED FOOTBRIDGE USING MODAL TESTING AND FE MODEL UPDATING

This paper describes the finite element modelling, dynamic testing and finite element model updating of a newly constructed, 35n span, cable-stayed footbridge. A numerical simulation, using an updated FE model, was conducted to evaluate the accelerations that would be induced by a walking pedestrian. The results from the simulation were compared to corresponding experimental measurements, and were found to be in good agreement. A further finding of this simulation was that a value of 0.087, for the Dynamic Load Factor of the second harmonic of the walking load, is appropriate for this type of structure.