The local vibration modes due to impact on the edge of a viaduct

This paper describes the vibration responses of a cement viaduct model under impulsive force excitation. The frequencies and mode shapes of resonances can control magnitude of the structure-borne noise radiation. A steel hammer is used to excite the cement viaduct model at the centre and at the supporting edge position of the cross-section separately in order to acquire the vibration responses and mode shape data. From such data the global mode and local modes of the cement viaduct model are identified. It is shown that the edge of section supported by the web may have low impedance in the vertical direction. The results of analysis using a Finite Element Method confirmed the experimental findings of the cross-sectional modes of the cement viaduct model. The findings suggested that the vibrations of local modes are of two types: (1) Centre mode – the centre of top panel can move but the edge is fixed. (2) Edge (web) mode – the centre of panel is fixed but the edge (supported by web) can move.