Reduction of traffic-induced vibration of two-girder steel bridge seated on elastomeric bearings

Reinforcing end-cross beam and removing bumps at expansion joints of bridges are proposed to reduce the traffic-induced vibration and to enhance the deck resistance near the expansion joint of a two-girder steel bridge with elastomeric bearings at each support. The reduction effect is investigated by means of a three-dimensional traffic-induced dynamic analysis. This study indicates that traffic-induced acceleration responses as well as dynamic reaction force of the bridge with the elastomeric bearings are greater than those of the bridge with steel pin bearings. It is observed that reinforcing the end-cross beam reduces traffic-induced vibrations regardless of bearing types, and also removing bumps is the most effective in reducing the dynamic reaction force of the bridges. Especially, for the bridge with elastomeric bearings, the maintenance of bumps near expansion joints is very important to improve not only expanding life span of the expansion joint but also the vibration serviceability of bridges.