A method to evaluate the frequencies of free transversal vibrations in self-anchored cable-stayed bridges

The objective of this paper is setting out, for a cable-stayed bridge with a curtain suspension, a method to determine the modes of vibration of the structure. The system of differential equations governing the vibrations of the bridge, derived by means of a variational formulation in a nonlinear field, is reported in Appendix C. The whole analysis results from the application of Hamilton’s principle, using the expressions of potential and kinetic energies and of the virtual work made by viscous damping forces of the various parts of the bridge (Monaco and Fiore 2003). This paper focuses on the equation concerning the transversal motion of the girder of the cable-stayed bridge and in particular on its final form obtained, restrictedly to the linear case, neglecting some quantities affecting the solution in a nonremarkable way. In the hypotheses of normal mode of vibration and of steady-state, we propose the resolution of this equation by a particular method based on a numerical approach. Respecting the boundary conditions, we derive, for each mode of vibration, the corresponding frequency, both natural and damped, the shape-function of the girder axis and the exponential function governing the variability of motion amplitude in time. Finally the results so obtained are compared with those deriving from the dynamic analysis performed by a finite elements calculation program.