Analytical models of floating bridges under moving loads

•The dynamic response of floating bridges consisting from simply connected non-deformable pontoons is studied.•Moving loads on the bridge, buoyancy forces and forces due to waves have been considered in the analysis.•A numerical method has been utilized for solving the nonlinear governing equations of motion.•The effect of the hydrodynamic forces in combination with the weight of the pontoons was also studied.

The dynamic response of floating bridges consisting from simply connected non-deformable pontoons under the action of a moving load with constant velocity is thoroughly studied. Taking into account the moving load, the buoyancy forces and the forces due to waves, the dynamic equilibrium is expressed by a set of dynamical equations of motion with respect to the joints between pontoons. The gathered nonlinear equations of motion are solved using the numerical method Runge–Kutta and the dynamical deflections of the joints between pontoons are shown in related diagrams for several velocities of the moving load and characteristics of the waves.