Pedestrian footfall excites vertical and lateral vibration. If a natural frequency of the bridge lies in the range of walking or running frequencies, the bridge may feel lively. Design guidance sets comfort criteria and calculation methods.
Typical measures
- Increasing stiffness or changing the mass to move natural frequencies.
- Tuned mass dampers, where the designer specifies them.
- Verification by measurement after installation, if required by the project.
This content is general technical information. It does not replace project-specific structural design, which must be carried out or approved by a qualified engineer under the applicable codes and the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction.