Numerical simulation on the aerodynamic characteristics effect of ribs acting on the stay cable

Abstract

The cable wind-induced vibration of long span cable-stayed bridge is one of the key factors causing serious damage to the bridge. The ribs setting on the surface of the stay cable are one of the aerodynamic damping measures to restrain its wind-induced vibration. As the surface morphology of the stay cable changes,its aerodynamic characteristics will change accordingly. The numerical simulations are carried out on the cables with ribs of different size using FLUENT, calculating the three force coefficients respectively,then the results were compared with the stay cable with smooth surface. The result shows that,compared with the stay cable with smooth surface,the tendency of the drag coefficient and lift coefficient of the stay cable with ribs is inapparent,while the lift moment coefficient reduced significantly. The effect of ribs height on the three force coefficients is not significant.