Modelling the vertical loads applied by pedestrians at a range of walking velocities.

Abstract

Over the past half century numerous high profile bridges such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the London Millennium Bridge, and the Auckland Harbour Bridge have been subject to pedestrian induced vibrations due to walking. In this time various deferent guides have attempted to solve such problems, and in doing so produced models which conservatively estimate the loading of pedestrians. They were in large part left with little or no option as there is a scarcity of reliable information on the magnitude and nature of this type of loading. The authors have attempted to shed light on this by carrying out over 300 walking trials on 50 healthy adult participants walking at slow, normal, and fast velocities along a rigid walkway mounted with a force plate. Subject data, pertinent temporal-spatial parameters of gait, walking velocity and pacing frequency are presented. Additionally, the vertical forces recorded during these tests are presented and analysed. A single harmonic force function is therefore developed. This force function which incorporates a velocity dependent dynamic load factor offers an improvement over the guides, which present their dynamic load factors independent of gait parameters including pacing velocity.