277 © Springer International Publishing AG 2018
R. Rupakhety, S. Ólafsson (eds.), Earthquake Engineering and Structural
Dynamics in Memory of Ragnar Sigbjörnsson, Geotechnical, Geological
and Earthquake Engineering 44, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62099-2_14
Chapter 14
Simulation and Monitoring of Floating Bridge
Behaviour
K.A. Kvåle, Ole Øiseth, A. Rönnquist, and S. Remseth
Abstract Firstly, this paper presents a review of the main steps for simulating foat-
ing bridge behaviour. Both time-domain and frequency-domain approaches are pre-
sented. An exemplifed model setup and simulation results from the selected case
study are presented. Secondly, data obtained from extensive structural and environ-
mental monitoring of the studied bridge are presented. Data analyses attempting to
visualize the correlations between excitation sources and response quantities are
discussed. Finally, an operational modal analysis is carried out, to attempt to iden-
tify the modal parameters from response measurements only.
Keywords Stochastic dynamic behaviour • Stochastic dynamics • Pontoon bridge
• Simulation • Monitoring
14.1 Introduction
The new Coastal Highway Route E39 along the western coast of Norway requires
several fjord crossings between 2000 and 5500 m of length. The Norwegian Public
Roads Administration is funding an extensive research program, including several
studies by PhD students and postdocs at the Norwegian University of Science and
Technology, to support safe design of the new fjord crossings.
The late Professor Ragnar Sigbjörnsson had a major role in defning this research
program both related to required theoretical development, numerical models, full
scale measurements and statistical approaches to arrive at recommended perfor-
mance-based design.
Various types of bridges, including suspension bridges, foating bridges, suspen-
sion bridges with foating towers and submerged foating tunnels are considered for
K.A. Kvåle • O. Øiseth • A. Rönnquist • S. Remseth (*)
Department of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, NTNU, Norwegian University
of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
e-mail: svein.remseth@ntnu.no