Experimental validation and calibration of pedestrian loading models for footbridges

Different patterns of pedestrian loading of footbridges exist, whose occurrence depends on a number of parameters, such as the bridge span, frequency, damping and mass, and the pedestrian density and activity. In this paper analytical models for the transient action of one walker and for the stationary action of an incoherent crowd of walkers will be presented, whose parameters have to be calibrated based on experimental tests.

Results will be summarised of tests aimed at a statistical characterisation of the walking parameters and of the walking forces. In addition, results of tests performed on a model footbridge will be shown, aimed at setting the limits of applicability of the proposed models.