ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Dynamic assessment has become increasingly important for designers of footbridges, given the publicity of recent vibration serviceability ‘failures’. What used to be an apparently simple problem has become very complex, involving not only structural dynamics but also biomechanics and psychology to try to prevent dangerous situations of large vibration response and possible panic. Quite apart from the usual difficulties of providing reliable mathematical (finite element) models, there are still not quantified uncertainties in the levels and nature of vertical and horizontal loadings due to pedestrian walking as well as feedbacks and other interactions due to multiple pedestrians or even crowds.
