Comparison of buffeting response of a suspension bridge between analysis and aeroelastic test

Abstract

Full bridge aeroelastic model tests are often carried out as a final confirmation of the satisfactory behavior of an important long suspension bridge. Such a model test can provide detailed information on structural responses such as displacement, acceleration, and bending moment at many locations on bridge deck and towers. In this chapter, an improved analytical approach is used to perform a fully coupled buffeting analysis of a suspension bridge, directly rendering internal forces and tower and cable responses. The analytical results are then compared with those from the full aeroelastic model test of the bridge. It turns out that the improved analytical approach can reasonably estimate not only displacement and acceleration responses but also bending moment, torsional moment, and shear force responses of three major bridge components. The chapter carries out a fully coupled buffeting analysis of a long suspension bridge using an improved analytical method in the frequency domain. The computed displacement, acceleration, bending moment, and torsional moment responses of both bridge deck and towers are compared with the results measured from full aeroelastic model tests. The results show that the analytical method used in the chapter can reasonably estimate not only displacement and acceleration responses but also bending and torsional moment responses of both bridge deck and towers. The results also reveal the significant interaction between the bridge deck and bridge towers and main cables.