Abstract
Although models have been suggested to describe the loadings caused by pedestrian motion, they do not adequately model pedestrian loading patterns. Therefore the task of describing pedestrian motion was approached from a different direction and a new, more versatile model of the loading was introduced. These loadings were represented using a step and half-sine Fourier series with variables for the contact time of each foot and the maximum amplitude for each pedestrian mode to be described. These new models also provide the ability to describe the motions of many pedestrians and situations such as phasing, spatial orientation, and crowding. The new pedestrian loading models were applied to different types of structural finite element models and multiple computer simulations were run with variations of loading patterns. Responses from both the previous models and the new models were compared to those from the measured data. Additionally, the responses from different loading patterns with varied spatial, phasing, and crowding situations were analyzed. These simulations proved favorable results of the new model and confirmed the necessity of taking different load situations into consideration.
McMahan, Anastasia K. (1996). Pedestrian-induced vibrations on structural systems. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1996 -THESIS -M336.