Comfort Analysis of Double-Deck Steel Truss Bridges Under Vehicle Loading

Double-deck steel truss bridges provide a viable solution to alleviate urban road congestion. However, the comfort performance of this kind of bridges under vehicle load needs in-depth investigation. Based on practical engineering research, the different vehicle types and loading conditions were considered comprehensively. Using vehicle-bridge coupling theory, the vibration responses of the upper-level vehicles and the lower-level pedestrians were calculated. The results show that the vibration on the upper deck is more intense than that in the lower pedestrian deck. At the speed of 60 km/h and under Class A road surface conditions, the comfort indicators for both vehicles and pedestrians meet the standard requirements. Road surface roughness is identified as the most critical factor influencing ride comfort. ADeterioration in road conditions leads to a significant decline in ride comfort. Moreover, a decrease in road surface class, an increase in vehicle speed, or a higher number of vehicles on the bridge all contribute to the exacerbation of pedestrian comfort degradation on the lower level.