Dynamic response of a curved bridge under moving truck load

Though static analysis of bridges is well defined, the results are not very realistic. Dynamic analysis will be more realistic if the model can be calibrated. Dynamic response of bridges is, however, a complex phenomenon and is less understood in curved bridges. In order to enhance our understanding in this area and to calibrate an analytical bridge–vehicle model, an experimental investigation was carried out on a continuous curved concrete bridge. The twin-cell box girder bridge was tested under the passage of a heavy vehicle at different speeds and strains and the deflections were recorded. The experimental results compare reasonably well with those from an analytical bridge–vehicle interaction model and those predicted by bridge design codes, enabling the calibration of the analytical model. It is evident that dynamic amplification depends both on position on span and location on cross-section. Results also show that there are larger dynamic amplifications in strains than those in deflections.