Numerical simulation of the wind action on a long-span bridge deck

Abstract

A numerical model to study the aerodynamic and aeroelastic bridge deck behavior is presented in this paper. The flow around a rigid fixed bridge cross-section, as well as the flow around the same cross-section with torsional motion, are investigated to obtain the aerodynamic coefficients, the Strouhal number and to determine the critical wind speed originating dynamic instability due to flutter. The two-dimensional flow is analyzed employing the pseudo-compressibility approach, with an Arbitrary Lagrangean-Eulerian (ALE) formulation and an explicit two-step Taylor-Galerkin method. The finite element method (FEM) is used for spatial discretization. The structure is considered as a rigid body with elastic restrains for the cross-section rotation and displacement components. The fluid-structure interaction is accomplished applying the compatibility and equilibrium conditions at the fluid-solid interface. The structural dynamic analysis is performed using the classical Newmark’s method.