Analysis of Span-Directional Coherence Function and Buffeting Response of a Long-Span Natural Gas Pipeline Suspension Bridge under a Turbulent Wind Field

Abstract

A long-span natural gas pipeline suspension bridge is prone to buffeting under the action of a turbulent wind field. In order to accurately calculate the buffeting response of the structure under a turbulent wind field, the 1 : 15 segment model wind tunnel test is used to obtain the aerodynamic coefficient and flutter derivative of the bridge deck structure. According to the test results, the buffeting force coherence functions under five different span-directional spacing are fitted. The results show that the buffeting force coherence function corresponding to different wind attack angles has a peak at the corresponding wing grid vibration frequency in the low-frequency region; when the spacing increases to r = 0.51 m or above, the amplitude of coherence function decreases significantly; for the spacing of r = 0.17 m , the buffeting force coherence functions in different directions are obviously different but the corresponding coherence functions of resistance, lift, and torque show a similar curve trend between different wind attack angles. Based on the Scanlan buffeting force correction model, the buffeting response under the reference wind speed of 30.1 m/s is analyzed in the frequency domain and compared with the wind tunnel test results of the whole bridge. The results show that the buffeting response calculated in this paper is in good agreement with the wind tunnel test results of the whole bridge and the buffeting response law is consistent. The maximum value of vertical buffeting response is located near the 1/4 span, and the maximum values of lateral and torsional response are located in the middle of the span. The lateral buffeting displacement response is significantly greater than the vertical buffeting displacement response. Under different wind attack angles, the vertical, lateral, and torsional buffeting displacement responses of the bridge deck structure increase nonlinearly with the increase of wind speed.