ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: The paper presents the experimental and analytical model analysis of a steel-girder arch bridge. The field test is carried out by ambient vibration testing under traffic excitations. Both the peak picking method in the frequency domain and the stochastic subspace identification method in the time domain are used for the output-only model identification. A good agreement in identified frequencies has been found between the two methods. It is further demonstrated that the stochastic subspace method provides better mode shapes. The three-dimensional finite element models are constructed and an analytical model analysis is then performed to generate natural frequencies and mode shapes in the three-orthogonal directions. The finite element models are validated to match the field natural frequencies and mode shapes.