Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Civil Engineering

Committee Chair

Charles Camp

Committee Member

David Arellano

Committee Member

Shahram Pezeshk

Abstract

Structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques based on ambient vibration measurements offer a non-destructive and effective way to assess the dynamic behavior and condition of bridge struc-tures. This study describes the development and analysis of a detailed finite element model of the Hunter Harrison Memorial Bridge, a cable-supported pedestrian bridge at the University of Mem-phis. The numerical model was created in SAP2000 using construction drawings and includes the reinforced concrete tower, steel floor beams, concrete deck slab, and stay cable system with the correct material properties and boundary conditions. Modal analysis was conducted to find the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the bridge system. The first four vibration modes were identified, capturing the critical global behavior and higher-order dynamic characteristics of the cable, deck, and tower interaction. The funda-mental numerical mode occurred at 1.40 Hz, followed by higher modes at 1.56 Hz, 2.12 Hz, and 3.83 Hz. The corresponding mode shapes show progressively more localized deformation pat-terns, consistent with the expected dynamic response of a cable-supported pedestrian bridge. To validate the numerical model, ambient vibration data collected with SmartSolo Sololite sensors were analyzed and compared with the finite-element model results. The experimentally identified mode shape showed strong qualitative agreement with the global deformation patterns predicted by the numerical model. The measured natural frequency of 1.66 Hz from the experi-ment was closer to the second mode natural frequency of 1.56 Hz predicted by the finite element model. The difference between the two frequencies highlights the impact of modeling simplifi-cations, actual structural conditions, and the influence of nonstructural components not explicit-ly represented in the finite element model. Overall, the results show that the finite element model provides a realistic and reliable representation of the bridge's global dynamic behavior. The close agreement in mode shapes between numerical and experimental results supports using the model as a foundation for vibration-based structural health monitoring, model updating, and long-term condition assessment of cable-supported pedestrian bridges.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest/Clarivate.”

Notes

Open Access

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