Investigation of the dynamic response and effect of soil properties of Arroyo Bracea II bridge in Madrid-Sevilla High-Speed railway line through experimental analyses

In this contribution the authors include results and conclusions from an experimental and numerical analysis of a railway bridge belonging to the Madrid-Sevilla High-Speed railway line in Spain. This structure is monitored due to its short length and typology, which make it susceptible to experience high transverse vibration levels. During the in-situ tests the soil properties at the site were obtained. Also, the response of the structure under the circulation of railway convoys was measured at several points of the deck and at the abutments. From the experimental measurements the modal parameters of the bridge are identified. Finally the experimental results are compared to those provided by a finite element numerical model in the time and frequency domains. Conclusions are extracted regarding the structure performance and the adequacy of the numerical model implemented.