Resonant effects on a bowstring railway bridge with orthotropic deck

In this paper, the dynamic behavior of a bowstring bridge with an orthotropic deck, located in the Brussels-Koln high-speed railway line, the Prester Bridge, is analyzed. Three-dimensional numerical models of the bridge were developed in order to evaluate the resonant effects due to global and local modes of vibration of the deck when crossed by the Thalys high-speed train. The influence, on the vertical accelerations of the deck, of different parameters such as the train speed, the track modeling, the number and types of modes of vibration considered and the adopted modal damping ratios were studied and the obtained results were compared to the standard limitations to this parameter.