Analytical Vehicle–Bridge Interaction Simulation Using Estimated Modal Parameters from Ambient Vibration Tests

Abstract Previous research shows that an accurate simulation of vehicle–bridge systems is not feasible using beam models because they cannot adequately represent the torsional and transverse behavior of a bridge. Three-dimensional dynamic vehicle–bridge analytical solutions and FE models can also be cumbersome to develop and are prone to errors from idealization and modeling assumptions. To address these limitations, this paper presents a novel analytical vehicle–bridge simulation method that utilizes the experimentally estimated modal parameters of a bridge structure. The estimated modes from ambient vibration tests inherently enable the simulation to be valid for any generalized structural system and boundary condition because they truly represent the actual structure. In this paper, the mathematical derivation of the analytical model using plate vibration is presented in detail, the framework for the application of the model is outlined, and the proposed model is validated using a full-scale case study arterial highway bridge in the Canadian Province of New Brunswick. The proposed model offers a valuable solution applicable to real-time structural health monitoring and diagnostics, bridge weight in motion, and drive-by vehicle monitoring fields.