Simply supported beam traversed by an undamped oscillator: An investigation of the influence of vehicle-bridge mass ratio on the dynamic responses

Abstract

Vertical dynamic responses of a simply supported beam subjected to a moving vehicle (undamped sprung mass system) are analysed in this paper. Influence of the ratio of vehicle mass to the bridge mass on their dynamic responses is investigated in detail. Time responses of the displacement of the mid-span of the beam and the vehicle are estimated using Newmark numerical time integration method. Effects of the mass ratio on the beam and vehicle responses as a function of the speed of the vehicle are predicted.

Keywords: Moving sprung mass, single span beam, mass ratio, dynamic analysis