A comparative study of numerical methods for fluid structure interaction analysis in long-span bridge design

Abstract

Both a Finite Volume and a Discrete Vortex technique to solve the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations have been employed to study the air flow around long-span bridge decks. The implementation and calibration of both methods is described alongside a quasi-3D extension added to the DVM solver. Applications to the wind engineering of bridge decks include flow simulations at different angles of attack, calculation of aerodynamic derivatives and fluid-structure interaction analyses. These are being presented and their specific features described. If a numerical method shall be employed in a practical design environment, it is judged not only by its accuracy but also by factors like versatility, computational cost and ease of use. Conclusions are drawn from the analyses to address the question of whether computer simulations can be practical design tools for the wind engineering of bridge decks.