Numerical studies on the dynamic behavior of a superlong curved pontoon bridge under wind and wave actions

Abstract

Floating bridges serve as attractive solutions where classical bridge concepts are not possible. However, compared to more commonly encountered bridge concepts such as cablesupported bridges, their dynamic behavior remains less investigated. Here, an end-supported pontoon bridge, currently under development by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) for the Bjørnafjord crossing in Norway, is considered as a case study to investigate its dynamic behavior under combined wind and wave loading. The stochastic dynamic behavior of the bridge are evaluated using state-of-the-art time domain analysis techniques. The frequency-dependent motion induced forces are modeled using state-space formulations, which are then embedded into the general-purpose finite element software ABAQUS, where the global dynamic analysis is carried out. Results of global response measures at the bridge girder are presented and the results are carefully discussed.