Prediction and Monitoring of the Construction Vibration Effect on an Adjacent Old Long Span Double-Convex Arch Bridge

Abstract

Ground vibrations caused by the construction of impact drilling piles may affect adjacent bridges, so corresponding prediction and monitoring are necessary to ensure the safety of bridges. In this study, the construction near an existing long-span double-convex arch bridge is taken as a case study to investigate different layouts of construction machines emanating harmful ground vibrations to the existing adjacent bridge by numerical simulations and monitoring. The peak acceleration and velocity acquired from numerical simulations, and monitoring were successfully used to implement impact drilling pile construction near the existing bridge. The results show that there are good consistencies between the monitoring and numerical simulation results, and the vibration acceleration of the foundation of abutments and piers are mainly derived from the vibration caused by the construction within a distance of 50 m, while the construction beyond 50 m has little effect on the old bridge. The numbers and locations of machines near the same foundation may have a weakening or strengthening effect on the peak acceleration and velocity due to destructive and constructive interference of waves, which can help to control the effects of the vibrations of the existing adjacent bridge.