Time domain simulations of wind- and wave-induced load effects on a three-span suspension bridge with two floating pylons

The construction of a three-span suspension bridge with two floating pylons is currently being considered for crossing the 5-km-wide and 550-m-deep Bjørnafjorden in Norway. The bridge design represents a novel concept that requires a detailed dynamic analysis to improve the current understanding of its dynamic behavior. Geometric nonlinearities in the cables and mooring system and nonlinearities in the load models are of particular interest; in addition, the relative influence of the buffeting wind forces and the first- and second-order wave excitation forces were carefully studied. The response predictions were obtained using state-of-the-art time domain methods.