Resonance characteristics of high-speed trains passing simply supported bridges

This paper investigates the resonant characteristics of three-dimensional bridges when high-speed trains pass them. Multi-span bridges with high piers and simply supported beams were used in the dynamic finite element analysis. The dominated train frequencies proposed in this study can be clearly seen from the finite element result. To avoid resonance, the dominated train frequencies and the bridge natural frequencies should be as different as possible, especially for the first dominated train frequency and the first bridge natural frequency in each direction. If the two first frequencies are similar, the bridge resonance can be serious. This study also indicates that a suitable axial stiffness between two simple beams can reduce vibrations at a near-resonance condition. The axial stiffness of the continuous railway and the friction of the bearing plate should be enough to obtain this axial stiffness. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.