LAUSR

Abstract The mechanical behavior of the hinged-girder floating bridge is elusive, because the main girder will produce elastic deformation induced by moving loads, as well as movement owing to the action of pier pontoons. Each section of hinged girder has been studied considering the rigid-body motion and elastic deformation at the same time. The moving equations of the hinged-girder floating bridge are established based on the vibration theory of beams. Motion of pier pontoons is studied in time domain as rigid floating bodies with potential theory. The total matrix equation is set up with the assuming modal method, which can be solved numerically. Examples indicate that the present model can express behaviors of the present type of floating bridge efficaciously, which provides technical means for the design and analysis of floating bridges.