• Wind and Structures
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.279-300
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• 2013

This paper presents a new analysis framework for predicting the internal buffeting forces in bridge components under skew wind. A linear regressive model between the internal buffeting force and deformation under normal wind is derived based on mathematical statistical theory. Applying this regression model under normal wind and the time history of buffeting displacement under skew wind with different yaw angles in wind tunnel tests, internal buffeting forces in bridge components can be obtained directly, without using the complex theory of buffeting analysis under skew wind. A self-anchored suspension bridge with a main span of 260 m and a steel arch bridge with a main span of 450 m are selected as case studies to illustrate the application of this linear regressive framework. The results show that the regressive model between internal buffeting force and displacement may be of high significance and can also be applied in the skew wind case with proper regressands, and the most unfavorable internal buffeting forces often occur under yaw wind.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.421-447
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• 2004

This paper presents a time domain approach for predicting buffeting response of long suspension bridges under skew winds. The buffeting forces on an oblique strip of the bridge deck in the mean wind direction are derived in terms of aerodynamic coefficients measured under skew winds and equivalent fluctuating wind velocities with aerodynamic impulse functions included. The time histories of equivalent fluctuating wind velocities and then buffeting forces along the bridge deck are simulated using the spectral representation method based on the Gaussian distribution assumption. The self-excited forces on an oblique strip of the bridge deck are represented by the convolution integrals involving aerodynamic impulse functions and structural motions. The aerodynamic impulse functions of self-excited forces are derived from experimentally measured flutter derivatives under skew winds using rational function approximations. The governing equation of motion of a long suspension bridge under skew winds is established using the finite element method and solved using the Newmark numerical method. The proposed time domain approach is finally applied to the Tsing Ma suspension bridge in Hong Kong. The computed buffeting responses of the bridge under skew winds during Typhoon Sam are compared with those obtained from the frequency domain approach and the field measurement. The comparisons are found satisfactory for the bridge response in the main span.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.505-520
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• 2002

Based on the modal coordinates of the structure, a finite-element and CQC (complete quadratic combination) method for analyzing the coupled buffeting response of long-span bridges is presented. The formulation of nodal equivalent aerodynamic buffeting forces is derived based on a reasonable assumption. The power spectral density and variance of nodal displacements and elemental internal forces of the bridge structure are computed using the finite-element method and the random vibration theory. The method presented is very efficient and can consider the arbitrary spectrum and spatial coherence of natural winds and the multimode and intermode effects on the buffeting responses of bridge structures. A coupled buffeting analysis of the Jiangyin Yangtse River Suspension Bridge with 1385 in main span is performed as an example. The results analyzed show that the multimode and intermode effects on the buffeting response of the bridge deck are quite remarkable.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.549-569
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• 2013

A passive control using flaps will be an alternative solution for flutter stability and buffeting response of a long suspension bridge. This method not only enables a lightweight economic stiffening girder without an additional stiffness for aerodynamic stability but also avoid the problems from the malfunctions of control systems and energy supply system of an active control by winglets and flaps. A time domain approach for predicting the coupled flutter and buffeting response of bridge deck with flaps is investigated. First, the flutter derivatives of bridge deck and flaps are found by experiment. Next, the derivation of time domain model of self-excited forces and control forces of sectional model is reported by using the rational function approximation. Finally, the effectiveness of passive flap control is investigated by the numerical simulation. The results show that the passive control by using flaps can increase the flutter speed and decrease the buffeting response. The experiment results are matched with numerical ones.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.293-307
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• 2010

This paper describes a new method for the estimation of six complex aerodynamic admittance functions. The aerodynamic admittance functions relate buffeting forces to the incoming wind turbulent components, of which the estimation accuracy affects the prediction accuracy of the buffeting response of long-span bridges. There should be two aerodynamic admittance functions corresponding to the longitudinal and vertical turbulent components, respectively, for each gust buffeting force. Therefore, there are six aerodynamic admittance functions in all for the three buffeting forces. Sears function is a complex theoretical expression for the aerodynamic admittance function for a thin airfoil. Similarly, the aerodynamic admittance functions for a bridge deck should also be complex functions. This paper presents a separated frequency-by-frequency method for estimating the six complex aerodynamic admittance functions. A new experimental methodology using an active turbulence generator is developed to measure simultaneously all the six complex aerodynamic admittance functions. Wind tunnel tests of a thin plate model and a streamlined bridge section model are conducted in turbulent flow. The six complex aerodynamic admittance functions, determined by the developed methodology are compared with the Sears functions and Davenport's formula.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2014

Modern design of long suspension bridges must satisfy at the same time spanning very long distances and limiting their response against several external loads, even if of high intensity. Structural Control, with the solutions it provides, can offer a reliable contribution to limit internal forces and deformations in structural elements when extreme events occur. This positive aspect is very interesting when the dimensions of the structure are large. Herein, an updated numerical model of an existing suspension bridge is developed in a commercial finite element work frame, starting from original data. This model is used to reevaluate an optimization procedure for a passive control strategy, already proven effective with a simplified model of the buffeting wind forces. Such optimization procedure, previously implemented with a quasi-steady model of the buffeting excitation, is here reevaluated adopting a more refined version of the wind-structure interaction forces in which wind actions are applied on the towers and the cables considering drag forces only. For the deck a more refined formulation, based on the use of indicial functions, is adopted to reflect coupling with the bridge orientation and motion. It is shown that there is no variation of the previously identified optimal passive configuration.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.645-654
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• 2011

Temporal supports is proposed for the large block construction of a double-deck truss girder of a bundle type cable-stayed bridge. The design force of the temporal bents cannot be evaluated by a conventional design procedure with gust factored static wind loads. The uplift forces in BS5400 also can not estimate the design forces of the temporal bents properly for the turbulent wind loads. A frequency-domain buffeting analysis is performed to evaluate the design forces of the temporal bents considering the interactions between the girder and temporal supports. Two cases of modeling are compared to estimate the stiffness contribution of temporal supports in determining design forces, i.e., an analysis model including temporal bents in the structural analysis modeling and an analysis model with fixed supports at the bent tops neglecting the stiffness of temporal bents. The consideration of bent stiffness usually generates smaller reaction forces than rigid support modeling. Consequently, the effectiveness and usefulness of the buffeting analysis procedure with full modeling of temporal supports are demonstrated for the design of a temporal bents of the construction of a bundle type cable-stayed bridge.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.181-198
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• 2020

In the traditional buffeting response analysis method, the spanwise incomplete correlation of buffeting forces is always assumed to be same as that of the incident wind turbulence and the action of the signature turbulence is ignored. In this paper, three typical bridge decks usually adopted in the real bridge engineering, a single flat box deck, a central slotted box deck and a two-separated paralleled box deck, were employed as the investigated objects. The wind induced pressure on these bridge decks were measured via a series of wind tunnel pressure tests of the sectional models. The influences of the wind speed in the tests, the angle of attack, the turbulence intensity and the characteristic distance were taken into account and discussed. The spanwise root coherence of buffeting forces was also compared with that of the incidence turbulence. The signature turbulence effect on the spanwise root coherence function was decomposed and explained by a new empirical method with a double-variable model. Finally, the formula of a sum of rational fractions that accounted for the signature turbulence effect was proposed in order to fit the results of the spanwise root coherence function. The results show that, the spanwise root coherence of the drag force agrees with that of incidence turbulence in some range of the reduced frequency but disagree in the mostly reduced frequency. The spanwise root coherence of the lift force and the torsional moment is much larger than that of the incidence turbulence. The influences of the wind speed and the angle of attack are slight, and they can be ignored in the wind tunnel test. The spanwise coherence function often involves several narrow peaks due to the signature turbulence effect in the high reduced frequency zone. The spanwise coherence function is related to the spanwise separation distance and the spanwise integral length scales, and the signature turbulence effect is related to the deck-width-related reduced frequency.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.46-57
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• 2013

Flutter stability and buffeting response have been the topics of most concern in the design state of long-span suspension bridges. Among approaches towards the aerodynamic stability, the aerodynamic-based control method which uses control surfaces to generate forces counteracting the unstable excitations has shown to be promising. This study focused on the mechanically controlled system using flaps; two flaps were attached on both sides of a bridge deck and were driven by the motions of the bridge deck. When the flaps moved, the overall cross section of the bridge deck containing these flaps was continuously changing. As a consequence, the aerodynamic forces also changed. The efficiency of the control was studied through the numerical simulation and experimental investigations. The values of quasi-steady forces, together with the experimental aerodynamic force coefficients, were proposed in the simulation. The results showed that the passive flap control can, with appropriate motion of the flaps, solve the aerodynamic instability. The efficiency of the flap control on the full span of a simple suspension bridge was also carried out. The mode-by-mode technique was applied for the investigation. The results revealed that the efficiency of the flap control relates to the mode number, the installed location of the flap, and the flap length.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.2A
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• pp.97-104
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• 2011

This study presents the aerodynamic admittance function of bridge girder under turbulent flow generated from wind velocity spectrum measured at bridge site. Three dimensional buffeting analysis of concrete cable-stayed bridge were performed considering aerodynamic admittance functions obtained from four different methods. It is revealed from the analysis that vertical buffeting responses considering proper aerodynamic admittance functions were just half of that neglecting aerodynamic admittance function. Grid turbulence was found to relatively lower the aerodynamic admittance function at low frequency range, and to underestimate the buffeting wind forces. It is recommended to use the aerodynamic admittance function evaluated from flutter derivatives or measured at active turbulence in order to properly predict the buffeting responses of bridges.