Flutter and galloping of cable-supported bridges with porous wind barriers

Abstract

Wind-tunnel experiments are carried out to analyze the influence of wind-barrier porosity and height on aerodynamic and aeroelastic characteristics of wide long-span cable-supported bridges. The experiments are carried out on sectional models of the Golden Gate Bridge (USA), Kao-Pin Hsi Bridge (Taiwan), and Great Belt Bridge (Denmark). The bridge-deck section models are equipped with the wind-barrier models at the windward (leading) edge of the studied sections. The experimental results indicate that the effects of wind barriers on galloping sensitivity of studied bridge decks are rather negligible, while bridge decks become quite prone to flutter for wind barriers placed at their windward edge. These trends are more exhibited for more-solid wind barriers. The effects of increasing wind-barrier height are not unambiguous, as they are simultaneously influenced by the aerodynamic shape of bridge decks as well.