First Skybridge in Asia

From left to right: Artist impression of skybridge | Finite element analysis of bridge without dampers, vertical mode

The London Millennium footbridge had high- lighted susceptibility of human induced vibrations in footbridges. Bridges with natural frequencies below 5 Hz are of structural concern which under BS 5200 Part 2 requires dynamic analysis for vibration serviceability. The new KLIA LCCT has a skybridge linking the Main Terminal and the Satellite buildings. Due to its long free span, this bridge has natural frequencies in the lateral direction of 1.1 Hz, and in the vertical direction of 1.9 Hz. This makes the bridge susceptible to side sway (lateral synchronous excitation) as well as vertical excitations.

Dynamic analysis to determine vibration accelerations without and with dampers were undertaken by the Institute, upon which tuned mass dampers were designed. The dampers operate in lateral and vertical directions to ad- dress the vertical and lateral vibration modes.

Six dampers each 5t had been successfully installed. The skybridge and dampers installation shall be subjected to site tests prior to handover of the KLIA2 project at end of 2013.

“First large scale tuned mass dampers in the country”

From left to right: View of underside of bridge with 6 unit dampers installed. | Artist impression of new KLIA LCCT