Vortex-Induced Vibration Optimization of a Wide Streamline Box Girder by Wind Tunnel Test

Abstract

Although the streamline box girder exhibits an excellent aerodynamic performance, they are often suffer severe Vortex-Induced Vibrations (VIVs) due to complicated separation and reattachment of air flows. It is necessary to apply control measures on the streamline box girder to suppress VIV. In this study, the VIV optimizations of a super wide streamline box girder were conducted via a series of section model wind tunnel tests. The effects of wind fairings, inspection vehicle rails, guide vanes, traffic barriers and handrails on the heaving VIV performance of the wide streamline box girder were analyzed. The test results show that the inspection vehicle rail and handrail are the main members to induce the heaving VIV of the box girder. A sharper wind fairing without changing the distance of railings is favorable to the heaving VIV performance. However, the countermeasures of changing the position of inspection vehicle rail and installing guide vanes under the girder have slight influences on reducing heaving VIV responses. Inspired by the spanwise sinusoidal perturbation method, the traffic barriers sealed with plates by regular intervals along the bridge deck can suppress the heaving VIV of the box girder successfully. The porosity of handrails has a significant effect on the heaving VIV. By using a sharp wind fairing and circular simplified handrails, the VIV performance of the wide streamline box girder was greatly improved. Their mitigation abilities were verified by a large-scale section model wind tunnel test.