Design and Vibration Response Analysis of a Novel Lightweight Temporary Steel Platform

Abstract

To address the limitations of conventional temporary steel platforms, a novel lightweight temporary steel platform (LTSP) system was developed based on an inland river high-pile wharf project. The proposed system utilizes permanent rock-socketed steel tubular piles of the wharf structure as the primary load-bearing foundation and consists of welded corbels, twin I-beam main girders, secondary I-section distribution beams, and steel deck plates. A construction method integrating permanent and temporary structural components was proposed. Field measurements were conducted to investigate the vibration response characteristics of the LTSP. The results indicate that the platform exhibits relatively high natural frequencies, with all identified fundamental frequencies exceeding 14 Hz, suggesting a low risk of resonance under human-induced excitations. The lateral stiffness of the platform was found to be greater than its vertical stiffness. Pedestrian-induced vibrations were mainly concentrated near excitation locations, whereas vehicle-induced vibrations were more uniformly distributed across the platform. The permanent steel tubular piles provided effective local restraint and enhanced structural stiffness, thereby reducing vibration transmission to adjacent areas. Construction machinery generated the most significant vibration responses, particularly during simultaneous multi-equipment operations. Therefore, to ensure the safety and operational performance of the temporary steel platform, it is recommended to avoid the simultaneous operation of heavy equipment, such as rotary drilling rigs, fully loaded tanker trucks, and truck cranes. Furthermore, as the current findings are based on a single field application case, future studies should incorporate long-term monitoring and numerical modeling to further evaluate the platform’s applicability to other practical engineering projects.