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Case Study

The Millennium Bridge, opened in 2000, faced significant lateral vibrations due to synchronized pedestrian footsteps, leading to its closure shortly after opening. Designed by Foster and Partners and Arup, the bridge is a 325-meter long suspension structure connecting key London landmarks, made primarily of steel and aluminum. Engineers installed dampers to mitigate the wobble, allowing the bridge to reopen successfully in 2002.

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30 views4 pages

Case Study

The Millennium Bridge, opened in 2000, faced significant lateral vibrations due to synchronized pedestrian footsteps, leading to its closure shortly after opening. Designed by Foster and Partners and Arup, the bridge is a 325-meter long suspension structure connecting key London landmarks, made primarily of steel and aluminum. Engineers installed dampers to mitigate the wobble, allowing the bridge to reopen successfully in 2002.

Uploaded by

JOEHANZ MINDORO
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Problem

The Millennium Bridge, also known as the London Millennium Footbridge, experienced
significant lateral vibrations when it first opened on June 10, 2000. This phenomenon, often
referred to as "wobble," was caused by the synchronized footsteps of pedestrians. As more
people walked across the bridge, their footsteps synchronized, creating lateral forces that
amplified the bridge's movement. This led to safety concerns and the immediate closure of the
bridge just two days after its opening [1][2].

Design

The bridge was designed by the architectural firm Foster and Partners, structural engineers
Arup, and the sculptor Sir Anthony Caro. It is a suspension bridge with a sleek, modern design.
The intention was to provide a pedestrian link between St. Paul's Cathedral on the north bank of
the Thames and the Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on the south bank. The
bridge spans 325 meters (1,066 feet) and is supported by two river piers and eight tension
cables. The deck of the bridge is made of aluminum, which is both lightweight and durable, and
the supporting structure is made of steel [3][4].

Implementation

The construction of the Millennium Bridge began in 1998 and was completed in 2000. The
project faced several engineering challenges, including the need to minimize the visual impact
of the bridge on the surrounding historic landmarks. The bridge was built to accommodate
approximately 5,000 pedestrians at one time. The support structure included two river piers,
eight tension cables, and three sections of a 4-meter (13-foot) wide aluminum deck. The
construction process involved advanced engineering techniques to ensure the bridge's stability
and aesthetic appeal [4][5].

Engineering Solution

To address the wobble issue, engineers from Arup conducted a series of tests and analyses to
understand the cause of the vibrations. They concluded that the phenomenon, known as
"synchronous lateral excitation," was the result of pedestrians subconsciously adjusting their
pace to match the bridge's movements. To mitigate the vibrations, engineers installed 89
dampers to reduce the lateral and vertical movements of the bridge. These included 37
fluid-viscous dampers to control lateral movement and 52 tuned mass dampers to control
vertical movement. The retrofitting process took almost two years, and the bridge was
successfully reopened to the public in February 2002 [1][2].

Bridge Classification

the Millennium Bridge is classified as a suspension bridge. Suspension bridges are


characterized by their use of cables suspended between towers to support the bridge deck. This
design allows for long spans and a sleek, modern appearance. Here are the specific
characteristics of the Millennium Bridge:

Materials of Construction​
The Millennium Bridge is constructed primarily of steel and aluminum. The deck is made
of aluminum, while the supporting structure, including the cables and piers, is made of
steel[6][7].​
​
Span Length​
The Millennium Bridge in London, with a total length of 325 meters (1,066 feet), falls
under the category of long-span bridges, as it exceeds the 125-meter threshold.: the
central span is 144 meters (472 feet), the northern span is 81 meters (266 feet), and the
southern span is 108 meters (354 feet][6][7].

Position (for Movable Bridges)​


The Millennium Bridge is a fixed pedestrian bridge and does not have any movable
sections[6].

Span Types​
The bridge features a suspension design with highly tensioned cables. It has a very
shallow profile, with the cables positioned below the deck level[6][7].
Deck Location​
The deck of the Millennium Bridge is located above the supporting cables, providing an
unobstructed view for pedestrians. The deck is 4 meters (13 feet) wide[6][7].

Usage​
The Millennium Bridge is exclusively for pedestrian use. It connects St. Paul's Cathedral
on the north bank of the Thames with the Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe
Theatre on the south bank[6][8].

Geometric Shape​
The bridge has a sleek, modern design with a shallow suspension profile. The cables are
arranged in a way that creates a "blade of light" effect, giving the bridge a unique and
elegant appearance[6][7].

Structural Form​
The Millennium Bridge is a suspension bridge with a very shallow profile. It uses
tensioned cables to support the deck, which is anchored to piers on either side of the
river[6][7].

REFERENCE

1.​ ThinkReliability. (n.d.). Case study: Investigating the Millennium Bridge wobble.
Retrieved from
https://blog.thinkreliability.com/case-study-investigating-the-millennium-bridge-wobble
2.​ ScienceDaily. (2005, November 3). Researchers solve mystery of 'wobbly' Millennium
Bridge. Retrieved from
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/11/051103080801.htm
3.​ StudentShare. (n.d.). Millennium project: A report. Retrieved from
https://studentshare.org/architecture/1742989-millennium-project-a-report
4.​ Arup. (n.d.). Millennium Bridge. Retrieved from
https://www.arup.com/projects/millennium-bridge
5.​ Royal Academy of Engineering. (n.d.). Millennium Bridge. Retrieved from
https://www.raeng.org.uk/publications/reports/millennium-bridge
6.​ Wikipedia. (n.d.). Millennium Bridge (London). Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Bridge_(London)
7.​ WikiArquitectura. (n.d.). Millennium Bridge. Retrieved from
https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/millennium-bridge
8.​ London x London. (n.d.). Millennium Bridge. Retrieved from
https://www.londonxlondon.com/millennium-bridge

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