Dynamic Amplification Factors for Bridges with Various Boundary Conditions

It is important that the assessment of bridges be as accurate as possible. Dynamic
amplification is one area in which the codes are sometimes overly conservative.
Bridge dynamics is well researched but the majority of this research has concentrated
on simply supported bridges. This paper examines the effect that introducing support
rotational restraint has on bridge dynamic amplification factors. Finite element models
are used with rotational springs at the bridge supports. This paper examines the effect
of vehicle velocity on the dynamic amplification for the different end restraints.