A theory of pedestrian-induced footbridge vibration comfortability based on sensitivity model

Deyi Chen,Zhenyu Wang,Shiping Huang

doi:10.1186/s43251-021-00045-8

Deyi Chen, Zhenyu Wang + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s43251-021-00045-8

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Abstract

Pedestrian-induced footbridge vibration comfort level is a complex problem that has been studied for a long time. However, no consensus has been reached on a quantitative calculation index for assessing vibration comfort level. Only simple comfort limits, rather than specific relationships between comfort level and the vibration endurance capacity of pedestrians, are currently available for assessing vibration comfort level of footbridges. This article aims to propose a sensitivity model for pedestrian-induced vibration comfort calculation based on the vibration endurance capacity of pedestrians and the vibration response of footbridges. The concepts of “human body resistance” and “vibration effect” were established according to the principle of probability and statistics. Mathematical definition of sensitivity was put forward. Calculation expressions for a pedestrian and pedestrians were deduced respectively. A theory of pedestrian-induced footbridge vibration comfort level was proposed. Field survey and experiment were conducted, the results of the field survey demonstrated that sensitivity values were in good agreement with the international vibration comfort standards. Furthermore, the field experiment results showed that the errors between the experimental results and the calculated results were within 6%. The proposed sensitivity theory can be used for pedestrian-induced footbridge vibration comfort quantitative calculation.

Highlights

Modern footbridges are often suffered from pedestrian-induced vibrations, which severely influence the walking comfort of pedestrians
(4) The sensitivity theory can be further studied from the point of probability theory, the sensitivity expectation and variance can be calculated under the continuous distribution, which lays the foundation for the design of pedestrian-induced vibration comfort
To evaluate the pedestrian-induced footbridge vibration comfort level, a sensitivity model based on the vibration endurance capacity of pedestrians and the vibration response of footbridges is proposed

Summary

Introduction

Modern footbridges are often suffered from pedestrian-induced vibrations, which severely influence the walking comfort of pedestrians. The infamous Millennium Bridge in London is the prime pedestrian-induced vibration example. There are vibration comfort problems on many footbridges, e.g. the Solferino Footbridge in Paris (Gheitasi et al 2016), the NEC Bridge in Birmingham (Zivanovic et al 2005), the Alexandra Bridge in Ontario (Bruno and (2021) 2:24. Venuti 2009), Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge (Li 1975), the Queens Park Footbridge in Britain (Huang et al 2005) and Shanghai Railway Station Footbridge (Xiao 2009). The above-mentioned cases demonstrate that the walking comfort is severely affected by pedestrian-induced vibration. The vibration comfort has become a critical requirement in footbridge design and serviceability assessments (Tubino et al 2020; Li et al 2020)

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