• Wind and Structures
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.565-587
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• 2013

Obvious vortex induced vibration (VIV) was observed during section model wind tunnel tests for a single main cable suspension bridge. An optimized section configuration was found for mitigating excessive amplitude of vibration which is much larger than the one prescribed by Chinese code. In order to verify the maximum amplitude of VIV for optimized girder, a full bridge aeroelastic model wind tunnel test was carried out. The differences between section and full aeroelastic model testing results were discussed. The maximum amplitude derived from section model tests was first interpreted into prototype with a linear VIV approach by considering partial or imperfect correlation of vortex-induced aerodynamic force along span based on Scanlan's semi-empirical linear model. A good consistency between section model and full bridge model was found only by considering the correlation of vortex-induced force along span.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 1998

Tiger Gate Bridge, a steel suspension bridge with a main span of 888 m and a stiffening box girder, is located at the Pearl River Estuary, Guangdong Province, one of the typhoon-prone area in China. Focusing on the developing of the full aeroelastic model of the bridge and simulation of the wind field of the bridge site in a large boundary wind tunnel at Tongji University, Shanghai, China, some main results about the wind resistant properties of the bridge including aerodynamic instability, buffeting responses both being in operation and erection stages by using of a full aeroelastic model wind tunnel testing are introduced. Some of analytical approaches to those aerodynamic behaviours are also presented, and compared with experimental data of the testing.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.233-247
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• 2014

Vortex-induced oscillation is a type of aeroelastic phenomenon, to which extended structures such as long-span bridges are most susceptible. The vortex-induced vibration (VIV) behaviors of a concerned bridge were investigated conventionally in virtue of wind tunnel tests on string-mounted sectional models. This necessitates the building of a linkage between the response of the sectional model and that of the prototype structure. Although many released literatures have related to this issue and provided suggestions, there is a lack of consistency among them. In this study, some theoretical models describing the vortex-induced structural motion, including the linear empirical model, the nonlinear empirical model and the modified (or generalized) nonlinear empirical model, are firstly reviewed. Then, the concept of equivalent mass density is introduced based on the principle that an equal input of energy should result in identical structural amplitudes. Based on these, the theoretical linkages between the amplitude of a section model and that corresponding to the prototype bridge are discussed with different analytical models. Theoretical derivation indicates that such connections are dependent mainly on two factors, one is the presupposed shape of deformation, and the other is the theoretical VIV model employed. The theoretical analysis in this study shows that, in comparison to the nonlinear empirical models, the linear one can result in obvious larger estimations of the full bridges' responses, especially in cases of cable-stayed bridges.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.505-518
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• 2001

Shantou Bay Bridge is the first long-span suspension bridge in China. Because of its location near the Shantou Seaport and its exposure to high typhoon winds, wind-resistant studies are necessary to be made. In this paper, critical flutter wind speeds and buffeting responses of this bridge at its operation and main construction stages are investigated. The Buffeting Response Spectrum method is first briefly presented. Then the sectional model test is carried out to directly obtain the critical flutter wind speed and to identify the flutter derivatives, which are adopted for the later analysis of the buffeting responses using the Buffeting Response Spectrum method. Finally the aeroelastic full bridge model is tested to further investigate the dynamic effects of the bridge. The results from the tests and the computations indicate that the flutter and buffeting behaviors of the Shantou Bay Bridge are satisfied.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.367-384
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• 2017

The Maanshan Bridge over Yangtze River in China is a new long-span suspension bridge with double main spans of $2{\times}1080m$ and a closed streamline cross-section of single box deck. The flutter and buffeting performances were investigated via wind tunnel tests of a full bridge aeroelastic model at a geometric scale of 1:211. The tests were conducted in both smooth wind and simulated boundary layer wind fields. Emphasis is placed on studying the interference effect of adjacent span via installing a wind deflector and a wind separating board to shelter one span of the bridge model from incoming flow. Issues related to effects of mid-tower stiffness and deck supporting conditions are also discussed. The testing results show that flutter critical wind velocities in smooth flow, with a wind deflector, are remarkably lower than those without. In turbulent wind, torsional and vertical standard deviations for the deck responses at midspan in testing cases without wind deflector are generally less than those at the midspan exposed to wind in testing cases with wind deflector, respectively. When double main spans are exposed to turbulent wind, the existence of either span is a mass damper to the other. Furthermore, both effects of mid-tower stiffness and deck supporting conditions at the middle tower on the flutter and buffeting performances of the Maanshan Bridge are unremarkable.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.393-409
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• 2013

This paper uses ten years of on-site monitoring data for the Confederation Bridge to derive wind loads and investigate whether the bridge has experienced its design wind force effects since its completion in 1997. The load effects derived using loads from the on-site monitoring data are compared to the load effects derived using loads from the 1994 and 2009 wind tunnel aerodynamic model tests. The research shows, for the first time, that the aerodynamic model-based methodology originally developed in 1994 is a very accurate method for deriving wind loads for structural design. The research also confirms that the bridge has not experienced its specified (i.e., unfactored) wind force effects since it was opened to traffic in 1997, even during the most severe event that has occurred during this period.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2006

Cable-stayed bridges are more inherently vulnerable to wind during the erection stages than when they are already being used. Even if a bridge that is already being used is aerodynamically stable, it is prone to having aerodynamic instabilities within the design wind speed during construction. Therefore, when the bridge's designers deliberate on the method they will use in constructing the bridge, they must likewise come up with a suitable plan to ensure the stability of the bridge during its erection (e.g., conducting a wind-tunnel investigation). This paper describes the aeroelastic full-bridge model tests that were conducted to investigate the aerodynamic behavior of the bridge during erection, with emphasis on aerodynamic stability and the mitigation of the buffeting response through temporary stabilization. The aerodynamic performance of a cable -stayed bridge with a main span of 50 m was studied in its completed stage and in two erection stages, corresponding 50% and 90% completion, respectively. In the 50% erection stage tests, a balanced cantilever configuration, with wind cable and temporary support at the tower, was conducted. The system that was determined to be most effective in reducing wind action on the bridge during construction was proposed in the paper, based on the results of the comparative study that was conducted.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.479-492
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• 2002

A finite element aerodynamic model that can be used to analyse flutter instability of long span bridges in the time domain is presented. This approach adopts a simplified quasi-steady formulation of the wind forces neglecting the vortex shedding effects. The governing equations used are effective only for reduced velocities $V^*$ sufficiently great: this is generally acceptable for long-span suspension bridges and, then, the dependence of the wind forces expressions of the flutter derivatives can be neglected. The procedure describes the mechanical response in an accurate way, taking into account the non-linear geometry effects (large displacements and large strains) and considering also the compressed locked coil strands instability. The time-dependence of the inertia force due to fluid structure interaction is not considered. The numerical examples are performed on the three-dimensional finite element model of the Great Belt East Bridge (DK). A mode frequency analysis is carried out to validate the model and the results show good agreement with the experimental measurements of the full bridge aeroelastic model in the wind tunnel tests. Significant parameters affecting bridge response are introduced and accurately investigated.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.179-191
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• 2021

A series of wind tunnel tests, including 1:50 sectional model tests, 1:50 free-standing bridge tower tests and 1:70 full-bridge aeroelastic model tests were carried out to systematically investigate the aerodynamic performance of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB). The test result indicates that there are three wind-resistant safety issues the HZMB encounters, including unacceptable low flutter critical wind speed, vertical vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of the main girder and galloping of the bridge tower in across-wind direction. Wind-induced vibration of HZMB can be effectively suppressed by the application of aerodynamic and mechanical measures. Acceptable flutter critical wind speed is achieved by optimizing the main girder form (before: large cantilever steel box girder, after: streamlined steel box girder) and cable type (before: central cable, after: double cable); The installations of wind fairing, guide plates and increasing structural damping are proved to be useful in suppressing the VIV of the HZMB; The galloping can be effectively suppressed by optimizing the interior angle on the windward side of the bridge tower. The present works provide scientific basis and guidance for wind resistance design of the HZMB.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.147-160
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• 2007

In this paper, we described the aeroelastic full-bridge model tests that were conducted to investigate the effect of alternative temporary stabilizing measures for thecable-stayed bridge during construction to ensure aerodynamic stability in the event of a typhoon or similar disasters. The effect of alternative temporary stabilizing measures was investigated through various configurations on two cable-stayed bridges with a main span of 475 m and 230 m, respectively. To investigate the bridge's aerodynamic behaviour and dynamic wind force during construction, the deflections at the end of the cantilever, the accelerations atthe top of the pylon and the moments at the lower part of the pylon were measured. As the result, the system with two sets of vertical cables per cantilever seemed to be the overall most effective solution, but the system with single vertical cable may also work. The combined system using the caisson support and vertical cables and the system with two sets of inclined cables per cantilever on the same anchor block may also be a solution. The inclined cables from the caisson to the girder were effective for some early stages of erecting the deck.