LRFD Pedestrian Bridge Example Rev
LRFD Pedestrian Bridge Example Rev
Note(s):
- Use the AASHTO LRFD Guide Specifications for Pedestrian Bridges (Draft - 2008)
- Article 3.1: Pedestrian bridges shall be designed for a uniform pedestrian loading of not less than
90 psf. Impact is not included in the pedestrian loading.
- Article 1.2.1: Minimum metal thickness of closed structural tubing members shall be 1/4 inch.
Evaluate the bridge for the following limit states per Article 3.7
Strength I
Strength III
Service I
Fatigue ???
AASHTO LRFD Guide Specification Pedestrian Bridge Design Example
Half-Through Truss Bridge with Tubular Members
GENERAL INFORMATION
Specifications Used:
- AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, 2008 (AASHTO LRFD)
- AASHTO Standard Specificationsfor Structural Supports for
Highway Signs, Luminaires and Traffic Signals, 2008 (AASHTO Signs)
- LRFD Guide Specifications for Pedestrian Bridges (Specification)
Geometry:
Span = 72 ft.
Deck width, wdeck = 10 ft.
CL-CL trusses = 10.5 ft.
A500, Gr. B, Fy = 46 ksi
Vertical Posts:
Diagonals:
FLOORBEAMS:
Section: W8x10
Ix = I b = 30.8 in4
Sx = 7.81 in3
DEAD LOAD:
- The deck area may be used to compute design pedestrian live load for all main member components
(truss members). The deck area is the non-zero influence surface for all such components.
Use the following vehicle for a clear deck width between 7 ft. and 10 ft.
Front axle = 2 k
Rear axle = 8 k
Note: For this example, the pedestrian load controls for the truss design; however, the
vehicle load will control for the floor system design.
- Use wind load as specified in the AASHTO Signs, Articles 3.8 and 3.9.
Pz = design wind pressure on superstructure using AASHTO Signs, Eq. 3-1 or Table 3-7, psf
= 0.00256KzGV IrCd
2
(AASHTO Signs, Eq. 3-1)
where:
Kz = height and exposure factor from AASHTO Signs, Eq. C3-1 or Table 3-5
= 1.00 (conservatively taken from Table 3-5 for a height of 32.8 ft.)
Note: The full lateral wind loads must be resisted by the entire superstructure.
Appropriate portions of the design wind loads must also be distributed to the
truss top chord for design lateral forces on the truss verticals.
Vertical Wind Loading
- Apply a vertical pressure of 0.020 ksf over the full deck width concurrently with the horizontal loading.
This loading shall be applied at the windward quarter point of the deck width.
WSV = vertical wind load on the full projected area of the superstructure applied at the
windward quarter point, plf
= Pv*wdeck
where:
Pv = vertical wind loading on superstructure, ksf
= 0.020 ksf
Therefore,
Vertical load on leeward truss = 200 plf x (7.5 ft. + (0.5 in. + 2.5 in.) / 12) / 10.50 ft.
= 147.6 plf
Vertical load on windward truss = 200 plf x (2.5 ft. + (0.5 in. + 2.5 in.) / 12) / 10.50 ft.
= 52.4 plf (uplift)
Panel point load from controlling load comb. = 1.038 klf x 6.0 ft. panel = 6.23 k/panel
Determine the design effective length factor, K, for the individual top chord members supported between
the truss verticals using Specification, Table 7.1.2-1.
where:
C= P/
= 2.917 k/in. (from a separate 2D analysis)
Pc = desired critical buckling load (i.e. factored compressive force) multiplied by 1.33,
k (Specification, Article 7.1.2)
= 178.9781 k
CL/Pc = 1.17
n = number of panels
= 12
Therefore,
1/K = 0.688 (Specification, by interpolation of Table 7.1.2-1)
K= 1.45
TOP CHORD COMPRESSIVE RESISTANCE: (AASHTO LRFD, Article 6.9.2)
K= 1.45
L= 72 in.
where:
c = resistance factor for compressive per AASHTO LRFD, Article 6.5.4.2
= 0.9
If 2.25, then:
Pn = 0.88Fy A s
(AASHTO LRFD, Eq. 6.9.4.1-2)
2
= KL
Fy
(AASHTO LRFD, Eq. 6.9.4.1-3)
r
s E
= 0.60
where:
As = gross cross-sectional area, in2
= 4.98 in2
where:
K= 1.45
Therefore,
Hf = 0.01 / 1.45 x 134.57 k
= 0.93 k
Apply Hf as the lateral force at the top of the Truss Verticals. Apply Hf concurrently with other primary
forces in the Verticals (combined compression plus bending analysis). Include lateral wind forces for
AASHTO LRFD Load Combination Strength III.
Note: All other truss members are analyzed using conventional methods per AASHTO LRFD.
Maximum pedestrian LL Deflection = 1/500 of the span length = 72.00 ft. x 12 / 500 = 1.73 in
From Truss Analysis, LL Deflection (wLL = 0.450 k/ft) = 1.20 in < L/500 OK
Vertical Direction
- Estimate the fundamental frequency in the vertical direction, f, by approximating the truss as a simply
supported uniform beam:
- The fundamental frequency in a vertical mode without consideration of live load should be greater than
3.0 Hz to avoid the first harmonic.
f = 0.18*SQRT(g / DL)
where:
DL = maximum vertical deflection of the truss due to the dead load, ft.
0.0444 ft. (from a separate analysis with w = 0.20 klf per truss)
For illustration purposes, assume higher harmonics (second, third, etc.) are a concern. The bridge
should be proportioned such that the following criteria is satisfied:
f 2.86 ln (180 / W)
where:
full weight of the supported structure including dead load and an allowance for
W = actual pedestrian live load, k
Lateral Direction
- Estimate the fundamental frequency in the lateral direction, f lat, by approximating the truss as a simply
supported uniform beam rotated 90 degrees:
- The fundamental frequency in a lateral mode without consideration of live load should be greater than
1.3 Hz to avoid the first harmonic.
f = 0.18*SQRT(g / DL_Lat)
where:
g = acceleration due to gravity, ft/s2
= 32.2 ft/s2
DL_Lat = maximum lateral deflection of the truss due to the dead load, ft.
0.0844 ft. (from a separate analysis)
PNW = 5.2 Cd IF
= 1.00
where:
f = 1.12 ksi
where
(1.0)(1.12) 16
1.12 < 16 OK
Welded Member connections and Fracture Toughness Requirements are outside the limits
of this Pedestrian Bridge design example. They will be the responsibility of the designer.