Experimental investigation on the dynamic properties of a floating bridge under regular waves: model design, implementation, and analysis

A new type of pontoon-truss composite floating bridge (PTCFB) was designed and investigated, and the module of the floating bridge is composed of pontoons and trusses. There are connectors between the pontoons and trusses, the most prominent feature distinguishing it from traditional pontoon bridges. The physical model tests of the typical module and a 4-module floating bridge were carried out in the wave basin to investigate the variation of the motion response of the modules and the connector loads between the modules with wave characteristics. In the experiments, the motion of the first and second modules of the floating bridge was measured, and the three-component balance was used for measurement of the load on the connector between the modules. The time histories of the motion responses and connectors are obtained, then the motion RAOs and transfer functions of the connector load are obtained, and the several important conclusions were obtained.