Finite Element Analysis of a Scaled Bridge Span: Influence of Vehicle Mass on Displacements

Abstract This paper presents the design and finite element analysis (FEA) of a 1:25 scaled span of the Mircești Bridge over the Siret River, to investigate the influence of vehicle mass on structural displacements. A 60-meter span was modeled in SolidWorks, resulting in a 2.4-meter physical prototype. FEM simulations in CATIA V5 R19 incorporated realistic material properties for steel and concrete and used a detailed tetrahedral mesh. Static load cases between 2–12 kg was applied at mid-span to simulate various vehicle masses. The analysis targeted vertical displacements induced by varying vehicle masses. Results revealed a linear relationship between mass and displacement, confirming the model’s ability to reflect elastic behavior under load. Despite the reduced scale, the structure demonstrated high stiffness and maintained displacement values within safe limits. The findings support the upcoming experimental validation phase and highlight the relevance of scaled modeling and FEM in assessing bridge performance under traffic loading.