Analysis of the dynamic characteristics of a suspension bridge based on RTK-GNSS measurement combining EEMD and a wavelet packet technique

To investigate the dynamic characteristics of a self-anchored suspension bridge (i.e. Tianjin Fumin Bridge), a real time kinematic-global navigation satellite system (RTK-GNSS) is used to achieve the displacement responses of the structure. Seeing the defect in the positioning accuracy of RTK-GNSS, a combined method (EEMDWP) of ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and wavelet packet (WP) analysis is firstly put forward to improve the precision of the vibration signals. Subsequently, fast Fourier transform and the random decrement technique are applied to estimate the natural frequency and the corresponding damping ratio of the structure. Meanwhile, to contrast the field measurement results, the finite element model (FEM) of the structure is established. Finally, the analysis results indicate that: (1) the RTK-GNSS technique is a powerful tool for monitoring the deformation of long-span bridges; (2) the proposed EEMDWP method is demonstrated to be better than the single EEMD or WP method; (3) the structural dynamic parameters are successfully obtained (i.e. the first natural frequency: 0.5873 Hz, the corresponding damping ratio: 2.12%); (4) the results from the field measurement are in agreement with the FEM with a difference of about 5% from each other.