General Information

Figure 1 shows a pedestrian suspension bridge.

Suspension bridge.
Suspension over a creek
Type Single-span suspension bridge
Main span ≅ 10 m
Deck width ≅ 0.6 m
Deck width to main span ratio ≅ 1:17
Pylon Wood logs (shore 1); trees and a wood log (shore 2)
Girder Bamboo transverse beam

Pylon and Deck Vibration

Figure 2 shows the pylon on shore 1.

Pylon (shore 1).
Pylon made of timber logs

The pylon is made of wood logs and consists of two columns (1 and 2), three cross-beams (3 to 5), and an external brace, which consists of a column (6) and a diagonal (7). The columns are embedded in the ground; the diagonal is tied to column (6) by a rope and a short bamboo pole, and the remaining members are connected by nails. The main cables are made of ropes; they pass over cross-beams 4 and 5 and are anchored by tying to cross-beam 3. The height h ≅ 2 m, and the width b ≅ 0.7 m. Figure 3 shows the opposite pylon.

Pylon (shore 2).
Pylon made of two living trees and a timber log

The pylon consists of two columns made of living trees and a cross-beam made of a wood log; the columns and the cross-beam are connected by tying using ropes and short bamboo poles. The two trees have a different shape; the height h1 and the width b1 ≅ 2 m. Figure 4 shows a main span sector.

Main span.
Bamboo pole deck of a suspension bridge

The deck consists of six bamboo poles placed side-by-side and bundled by ropes. The hangers (also made of ropes) are tied to the main cables, the girders, and the deck's external poles. Figure 5 shows a front view of the pylon on shore 1.

Pylon (shore 1).
Offset between pylon and deck axes

The bamboo poles are placed directly over the creek banks. There is an eccentricity (e) between the axes of the deck and the pylon, which affects the geometry of the main cables and the hangers. Figure 6 shows a schematic layout of the bridge.

Layout.
Layout of a pedestrian suspension bridge; offset between the deck and a pylon

The vertical vibration of the main span during single pedestrian-induced excitation is shown in video 1.

Video 1. Vertical vibration during single pedestrian-induced excitation.

Video 2 shows the pylon vibration on shore 1 during single pedestrian-induced excitation.

Video 2. Vibration during single pedestrian-induced excitation (pylon shore 1).

The pylon vibration on shore 2 has a much lower amplitude.

  • What are some possible measures to reduce the vertical vibration of the main span?