A novel two-degree-of-freedom model of nonlinear self-excited force for coupled flutter instability of bridge decks

Abstract

This paper aims to propose a novel model for predicting the nonlinear heave-torsion coupled flutter instability of flat bridge decks. The nonlinear oscillatory system during coupled post-flutter instabilities was modeled as a weak perturbation of the classical linear flutter theory. A novel nonlinear self-excited force model was then proposed by introducing extra nonlinear terms in classical linear model to consider the effects of nonlinear aerodynamic damping, amplitude-dependent vibration mode and the coupling of aerostatic deformation. An efficient algorithm for parameters identification and solving of the nonlinear coupled oscillator was also developed. The effectiveness of the proposed analytical framework was validated through an elastically-supported sectional model test in estimating the self-sustained vibrations during post-critical states of a typical closed-box bridge deck.