Vibration Analysis of a Composite Concrete/GFRP Slab Induced by Human Activities

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials have been introduced recently in the construction of new structural systems, particularly in footbridge systems. Innovative systems that combine concrete with FRP materials lead to lighter and more slender structures as compared to conventional reinforced concrete structures, which can bring about vibration problems. In this work, a vibration analysis of a composite slab subjected to human activities is performed, both experimentally and numerically. The slab is composed of a concrete top laid on glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) I-section pultruded profiles. In the experimental analysis, two prototypes of 0.80 m width and 4.00 m span, representing a slab strip, were subjected to walking and jumping by several volunteers. In the numerical analysis, the slab was modeled by finite elements under dynamic loadings that simulate walking and jumping. Both the experimental and numerical results have indicated that the dynamic behavior under human activities of the composite slab must be considered in the design. View Full-Text