• Wind and Structures
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.177-191
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• 2022

Trains emerging on a streamlined bridge-girder may have salient interference effects on the aerodynamic properties of the bridge. The present paper aims at investigating these interferences by wind tunnel measurements, covering surface pressure distributions, near wake profiles, and flow visualizations. Experimental results show that the above interferences can be categorized into two primary effects, i.e., an additional angle of attack (AoA) and an enhancement in flow separation. The additional AoA effect is demonstrated by the upward-moved stagnation point of the oncoming flow, the up-shifted global symmetrical axis of flow around the bridge-girder, and the clockwise-deflected orientation of flow approaching the bridge-girder. Due to this additional AoA effect, the two critical AoAs, where flow around the bridge-girder transits from trailing-edge vortex shedding (TEVS) to impinging leading-edge vortices (ILEV) and from ILEV to leading-edge vortex shedding (LEVS) of the bridge-girder are increased by 4° with respect to the same bridge-girder without trains. On the other hand, the underlying flow physics of the enhancement in flow separation is the large-scale vortices shedding from trains instead of TEVS, ILEV, and LEVS governed the upper half bridge-girder without trains in different ranges of AoA. Because of this enhancement, the mean lift and moment force coefficients, all the three fluctuating force coefficients (drag, lift, and moment), and the aerodynamic span-wise correlation of the bridge-girder are more significant than those without trains.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.327-347
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• 2015

This paper investigates the effects of Reynolds number (Re) on the aerodynamic characteristics of a twin-deck bridge. A 1:36 scale sectional model of a twin girder bridge was tested using the Wall of Wind (WOW) open jet wind tunnel facility at Florida International University (FIU). Static tests were performed on the model, instrumented with pressure taps and load cells, at high wind speeds with Re ranging from $1.3{\times}10^6$ to $6.1{\times}10^6$ based on the section width. Results show that the section was almost insensitive to Re when pitched to negative angles of attack. However, mean and fluctuating pressure distributions changed noticeably for zero and positive wind angles of attack while testing at different Re regimes. The pressure results suggested that with the Re increase, a larger separation bubble formed on the bottom surface of the upstream girder accompanied with a narrower wake region. As a result, drag coefficient decreased mildly and negative lift coefficient increased. Flow modification due to the Re increase also helped in distributing forces more equally between the two girders. The bare deck section was found to be prone to vortex shedding with limited dependence on the Re. Based on the observations, vortex mitigation devices attached to the bottom surface were effective in inhibiting vortex shedding, particularly at lower Re regime.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.385-407
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• 2012

Bridge hanger vibrations have been reported under icy conditions. In this paper, the results from a series of static and dynamic wind tunnel tests on a circular cylinder representing a bridge hanger with simulated thin ice accretions are presented. The experiments focus on ice accretions produced for wind perpendicular to the cylinder at velocities below 30 m/s and for temperatures between $-5^{\circ}C$ and $-1^{\circ}C$. Aerodynamic drag, lift and moment coefficients are obtained from the static tests, whilst mean and fluctuating responses are obtained from the dynamic tests. The influence of varying surface roughness is also examined. The static force coefficients are used to predict parameter regions where aerodynamic instability of the iced bridge hanger might be expected to occur, through use of an adapted theoretical 3-DOF quasi-steady galloping instability model, which accounts for sectional axial rotation. A comparison between the 3-DOF model and the instabilities found through two degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) dynamic tests is presented. It is shown that, although there is good agreement between the instabilities found through use of the quasi-steady theory and the dynamic tests, discrepancies exist-indicating the possible inability of quasi-steady theory to fully predict these vibrational instabilities.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.599-616
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• 2021

The semi-submersible with three circular columns is an original concept of efficient multifunctional platform, which can be used for marginal oil, gas field, and Floater of Wind Turbines (FOWT). However, under certain flow conditions, especially in uniform current with specific velocities, the eddies will alternatively form and drop behind columns, resulting in the fluctuating lift force and drag force. Consequently, the semi-submersible will subject to the Flow-Induced Motions (FIM). Based on the Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) method, the numerical studies were carried out to understand the FIM characteristics of the three-column semi-submersible at two different parameters, i.e., current incidences (0°, 30°, and 60°-incidences) and reduced velocities (4 ≤ U_r ≤ 14). The results indicate that the lock-in range of 6 ≤ U_r ≤ 10 for the transverse motions is presented, and the largest transverse non-dimensional nominal amplitude is observed at 60°-incidence, with a value of A_y/D = 0:481. The largest yaw amplitude A_yaw is around 3.0° at 0°-incidence in the range of 8 ≤ U_r ≤ 12. The motion magnitude is basically the same as that of a four-column semi-submersible. However, smaller responses are presented compared to those of the three-column systems revealing the mitigation effect of the pontoon on FIM.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.525-532
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• 2020

This work numerically investigates the effects of Reynolds number Re_D (= 100 - 150), cross-sectional aspect ratio AR = ( 0.25 -1.0), and attack angle α (= 0° - 90°) on the forces, Strouhal number, and wake of an elliptical cylinder, where Re_D is based on the freestream velocity and cylinder cross-section height normal to the freestream flow, AR is the ratio of the minor axis to the major axis of the elliptical cylinder, and α is the angle between the cylinder major axis and the incoming flow. At Re_D = 100, two distinct wake structures are identified, namely 'Steady wake' (pattern I) and 'Karman wake followed by a steady wake (pattern II)' when AR and α are varied in the ranges specified. When Re_D is increased to 150, an additional wake pattern, 'Karman wake followed by secondary wake (pattern III)' materializes. Pattern I is characterized by two steady bubbles forming behind the cylinder. Pattern II features Karman vortex street immediately behind the cylinder, with the vortex street transmuting to two steady shear layers downstream. Inflection angle α_i = 32°, 37.5° and 45° are identified for AR = 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75, respectively, where the wake asymmetry is the greatest. The α_i effectively distinguishes the dependence on α and AR of force and vortex shedding frequency at either Re_D. In Pattern III, the Karman street forming behind the cylinder is modified to a secondary vortex street. At a given AR and α, Re_D = 150 renders higher fluctuating lift and Strouhal number than Re_D = 100.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.127-142
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• 2016

Aerodynamic effects, such as drag force and flow-induced vibration (FIV), on civil engineering structures can be minimized by optimally modifying the structure shape. This work investigates the turbulent wake of a square prism with its faces modified into a sinusoidal wave along the spanwise direction using three-dimensional large eddy simulation (LES) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) techniques at Reynolds number $Re_{Dm}$ = 16,500-22,000, based on the nominal width ($D_m$) of the prism and free-stream velocity ($U_{\infty}$). Two arrangements are considered: (i) the top and bottom faces of the prism are shaped into the sinusoidal waves (termed as WSP-A), and (ii) the front and rear faces are modified into the sinusoidal waves (WSP-B). The sinusoidal waves have a wavelength of $6D_m$ and an amplitude of $0.15D_m$. It has been found that the wavy faces lead to more three-dimensional free shear layers in the near wake than the flat faces (smooth square prism). As a result, the roll-up of shear layers is postponed. Furthermore, the near-wake vortical structures exhibit dominant periodic variations along the spanwise direction; the minimum (i.e., saddle) and maximum (i.e., node) cross-sections of the modified prisms have narrow and wide wakes, respectively. The wake recirculation bubble of the modified prism is wider and longer, compared with its smooth counterpart, thus resulting in a significant drag reduction and fluctuating lift suppression (up to 8.7% and 78.2%, respectively, for the case of WSP-A). Multiple dominant frequencies of vortex shedding, which are distinct from that of the smooth prism, are detected in the near wake of the wavy prisms. The present study may shed light on the understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms of FIV control, in terms of passive modification of the bluff-body shape.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.559-575
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• 2016

In order to investigate the influence of different blade positions on aerodynamic load and wind loads and load-effects of large scale wind turbine tower under the halt state, we take a certain 3 MW large scale horizontal axis three-blade wind turbine as the example for analysis. First of all, numerical simulation was conducted for wind turbine flow field and aerodynamic characteristics under different halt states (8 calculating conditions in total) based on LES (large eddy simulation) method. The influence of different halt states on the average and fluctuating wind pressure coefficients of turbine tower surface, total lift force and resistance coefficient, circular flow and wake flow characteristics was compared and analysed. Then on this basis, the time-domain analysis of wind loads and load-effects was performed for the wind turbine tower structure under different halt states by making use of the finite element method. The main conclusions of this paper are as follows: The halt positions of wind blade could have a big impact on tower circular flow and aerodynamic distribution, in which Condition 5 is the most unfavourable while Condition 1 is the most beneficial condition. The wind loads and load-effects of disturbed region of tower is obviously affected by different halt positions of wind blades, especially the large fluctuating displacement mean square deviation at both windward and leeward sides, among which the maximum response occurs in $350^{\circ}$ to the tower top under Condition 8; the maximum bending moment of tower bottom occurs in $330^{\circ}$ under Condition 2. The extreme displacement of blade top all exceeds 2.5 m under Condition 5, and the maximum value of windward displacement response for the tip of Blade 3 under Condition 8 could reach 3.35 m. All these results indicate that the influence of halt positions of different blades should be taken into consideration carefully when making wind-resistance design for large scale wind turbine tower.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.71-87
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• 2019

The yaw and interference effects of blades affect aerodynamic performance of large wind turbine system significantly, thus influencing wind-induced response and stability performance of the tower-blade system. In this study, the 5MW wind turbine which was developed by Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) was chosen as the research object. Large eddy simulation on flow field and aerodynamics of its wind turbine system with different yaw angles($0^{\circ}$, $5^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, $20^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$ and $45^{\circ}$) under the most unfavorable blade position was carried out. Results were compared with codes and measurement results at home and abroad, which verified validity of large eddy simulation. On this basis, effects of yaw angle on average wind pressure, fluctuating wind pressure, lift coefficient, resistance coefficient,streaming and wake characteristics on different interference zone of tower of wind turbine were analyzed. Next, the blade-cabin-tower-foundation integrated coupling model of the large wind turbine was constructed based on finite element method. Dynamic characteristics, wind-induced response and stability performance of the wind turbine structural system under different yaw angle were analyzed systematically. Research results demonstrate that with the increase of yaw angle, the maximum negative pressure and extreme negative pressure of the significant interference zone of the tower present a V-shaped variation trend, whereas the layer resistance coefficient increases gradually. By contrast, the maximum negative pressure, extreme negative pressure and layer resistance coefficient of the non-interference zone remain basically same. Effects of streaming and wake weaken gradually. When the yaw angle increases to $45^{\circ}$, aerodynamic force of the tower is close with that when there's no blade yaw and interference. As the height of significant interference zone increases, layer resistance coefficient decreases firstly and then increases under different yaw angles. Maximum means and mean square error (MSE) of radial displacement under different yaw angles all occur at circumferential $0^{\circ}$ and $180^{\circ}$ of the tower. The maximum bending moment at tower bottom is at circumferential $20^{\circ}$. When the yaw angle is $0^{\circ}$, the maximum downwind displacement responses of different blades are higher than 2.7 m. With the increase of yaw angle, MSEs of radial displacement at tower top, downwind displacement of blades, internal force at blade roots all decrease gradually, while the critical wind speed decreases firstly and then increases and finally decreases. The comprehensive analysis shows that the worst aerodynamic performance and wind-induced response of the wind turbine system are achieved when the yaw angle is $0^{\circ}$, whereas the worst stability performance and ultimate bearing capacity are achieved when the yaw angle is $45^{\circ}$.