Title: Influence of truck suspensions on the dynamic response of a short span bridge over Cameron's Creek

Authors: Robert J. Heywood

Addresses: Principal Researcher, Physical Infrastructure Centre, School of Civil Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Queensland, 4061, Australia

Abstract: The dynamic interaction between bridges and vehicles increases when the natural frequencies of the dynamic wheel forces associated with body bounce (2 to 4 Hz) match those of the bridge. This interaction with body bounce vibrations does not occur in short span bridges as their natural frequencies are greater than 8 Hz. However, research conducted as part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development DIVINE international research project has demonstrated that dynamic coupling occurs in short span bridges with natural frequencies corresponding to those of axle hop (10 to 15 Hz). The dynamic response of a 9.14 m (30 ft) span prestressed concrete bridge and the dynamic wheel forces were measured simultaneously for both a conventional steel leaf spring and air suspensions fitted to a tri-axle trailer. The dynamic response of the bridge was large but sensitive to speed, road roughness and suspension. Generally the peak bridge deflections were smaller when the air suspensions were fitted except when axle hop was induced by roughness. In this case, at critical speeds, the vehicle fitted with the air suspension and the bridge coupled to give large deflections and multiple fatigue cycles during the passage of the test vehicle.

Keywords: vehicle-bridge interaction; data acquisition; truck suspensions; body bounce vibrations; short span bridges; dynamic wheel forces; leaf spring suspension; air suspension; vehicle speed; road surface roughness; bridge vibration; bridge dynamics; heavy vehicles; heavy vehicle suspensions; vibrations; bridge surface profiles; vehicle-bridge interaction; bridge structures; bridge structure response; structural vibration; transport structures; vehicle loading.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.1996.054561

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 1996 Vol.3 No.1/2/3/4, pp.222 - 239

Published online: 18 Jun 2013 *

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