Dynamic Analysis for Structural Upgrade of Footbridge Located in Canna’s River in Carbonia (Italy)

Understanding how pedestrians interact with the footbridge, in particular studying dynamic actions caused by pedestrian loads on footbridges, engineers can address any design deficiencies, such as excessive deflection, resonance, or discomfort experienced by pedestrians during bridge usage. For this, the paper consists in two main parts: In the first part, we extensively examine various factors essential for accurately modeling the dynamic actions induced by individual pedestrians or groups of pedestrians on footbridges. Our focus includes an analysis of relevant experimental studies conducted abroad, specifically regarding the closure of the Millennium Bridge. This section extensively discusses the identified issues and explores different mathematical models, particularly those capable of simulating dynamic forces resulting from walking, jogging, or jumping, whether by an individual or a group of walkers. The second part of the study centers around utilizing Finite Element Method (FEM) models to analyze a specific footbridge located in Carbonia. This footbridge was inaugurated in November 2001 but had to be closed within a year.