Abstract
Due to the complex arrangement of structural components in the vicinity of bridge pylon zones, the wind environment above bridge decks is very complicated. A sudden change in wind speed exerts an adverse effect on vehicle control stability. In order to investigate the characteristics of the flow field in the vicinity of the bridge pylon, the wind environment near an inverted Y-shaped pylon is studied by experimental and numerical methods. From the flow visualization and the wind speed measurement in the wind tunnel and the numerical simulation created using Fluent software, specific patterns of the direction and magnitude of wind speed at a range of vehicle height above the bridge deck near the pylon zone were observed along the longitudinal direction. This distribution pattern of the wind environment can effectively guide the wind barrier arrangement near the bridge pylon zone. Combined with the two safety evaluation indicators proposed in this paper, the optimal arrangement scheme of wind barriers in the bridge pylon zone of Sutong Bridge is determined. This paper deepens the understanding of the wind environment near the pylon zone and proposes an evaluation method for the wind environment near the pylon zone, which can serve as the basis for wind barrier arrangement in similar research projects.
Highlights
Since the flow field around the bridge pylon is unevenly distributed [1], the vehicle is inevitably affected by the change of crosswind speed whilst traveling on the bridge deck
In order to deeply investigate the influenced range and the wind environment characteristics dominated by the flow around a bridge pylon or bridge girder, the experiments of wind speed measurement and flow visualization were applied in wind tunnel tests, the main characteristics of wind environment are reproduced by the numerical simulation method
Based on a comprehensive knowledge of the flow field pattern in the vicinity of the bridge pylon zone, the evaluation method and specific indicators of wind barrier arrangement are proposed based on the driving stability of the vehicle under a crosswind, which can provide guidance for decision-making in wind barrier design
Summary
Since the flow field around the bridge pylon is unevenly distributed [1], the vehicle is inevitably affected by the change of crosswind speed whilst traveling on the bridge deck. The characteristics of the wind environment above the deck near the pylon zone are studied by wind tunnel experiments and numerical simulation methods. In order to deeply investigate the influenced range and the wind environment characteristics dominated by the flow around a bridge pylon or bridge girder, the experiments of wind speed measurement and flow visualization were applied in wind tunnel tests, the main characteristics of wind environment are reproduced by the numerical simulation method. Based on a comprehensive knowledge of the flow field pattern in the vicinity of the bridge pylon zone, the evaluation method and specific indicators of wind barrier arrangement are proposed based on the driving stability of the vehicle under a crosswind, which can provide guidance for decision-making in wind barrier design
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