Linear vertical vibrations of suspension bridges: A review of continuum models and some new results

The classical continuum model for the linear vertical vibrations of a suspension bridge (Bleich et al., 1950 [1]) is re-examined. The primary objective of the study is to extend the definitive analytical and numerical results of Irvine and Caughey (1974) [2], Irvine and Griffin (1976) [3] and Irvine (1980, 1981) [4] and [5] for the natural frequencies, mode shapes, and modal participation factors for an extensible suspension cable, which depend on one dimensionless parameter related to the elasticity of the cable, to the case of a stiffened suspension bridge in which the response depends also on a second dimensionless parameter related to the stiffness of the girder. The continuum suspension bridge model is also used to understand the pattern of variation of mode shapes as a function of cable elasticity and girder stiffness, which has been shown by West et al. (1984) [6] to be considerably more complex than that for a suspension cable. Finally, the threshold amplitudes of free vibrations that would result in the incipient slackening of the hangers are determined.