Vibration Mechanisms and Controls of Long-Span Bridges: A Review

Abstract

Dynamic performance is an important consideration in long-span bridge design. Owing to its flexibility and low damping, various types of vibration from different sources of excitation could occur during the lifetime of a long-span bridge. This paper reviews important studies and developments on long-span bridge vibration mechanism and control under wind, seismic, traffic and human-motion excitations. Types of vibration commonly observed on the long-span bridge are discussed from the viewpoint of structure engineering. Discussion for each subject is commenced by describing the vibration mechanism followed by the survey on observed phenomena in many long-span bridges associated with the type of vibration. The paper also describes the engineering solutions adopted as countermeasures for each type of bridge vibration problem.