• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.6A
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• pp.535-542
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• 2010

Precise estimation of a structure's dynamic characteristics is indispensable for ensuring stable dynamic responses during lifetime especially for the structures which can experience resonance such as railway bridges. In this paper, the results of forced vibration tests of different excitation methods (vibration exciter and impact hammer) are compared to examine the differences and the cause of differences of extracted natural frequencies. Consequently a natural frequency modification method is suggested to eliminate effects of non-structural disturbance factors. Also, sequential forced vibration tests are performed before and after track construction according to the construction stage of a railway bridge, and the variation of natural frequencies are examined. Effect of added mass of vibration exciter and variation of support condition due to the level of excitation force are concluded as the major cause of natural frequency differences. Thus eliminating these effects can enhance the reliability of the extracted natural frequencies. Construction of track affects not only the mass of structure but also the stiffness of the structure. Also, the amount of increase in stiffness varies according to the level of structural deflection. Therefore, reasonable estimation of the level of structural response during operation is important for precise natural frequency calculation at design phase.