International Symposium on Computational Methods for Fluid-Structure Interaction, Trondheim, Norway, 15-17 February, 1999
FINITE E L E M E N T SIMULATION OF WIND-INDUCED BRIDGE MOTION Jannette B . Frandsen^ Allan McRobie^ Cambridge University Engineering Department, Trumpington St., Cambridge C B 2 I P Z , U . K . e-mail: ^
[email protected], ^
[email protected]
Abstract T h i s paper presents a critical investigation into fully-coupled fluidstructure finite element analysis applied to the aeroelastic modelling of long-span bridges. Numerical solutions appear to offer designers additional insight into the complexities of fluid-structure-interaction. The eventual aim is to use the increased understanding to reduce the large number of expensive physical model tests that are currently required to select the appropriate cross-section of a single design. Here we compare the predictions of one commercial code running on moderate computational resources w i t h results from other codes and w i t h results of physical tests at model- and full-scale. K e y w o r d s : Long-span bridges, vortex-induced oscillations, flutter, finite elements.
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Introduction
T h e design of any long-span bridge w i l l always require physical model tests, but designers are showing increasing interest i n the use of numerical simulations to guide that testing program. Numerical simulations appear to off'er increased insight into the complex processes involved i n fluid-structure interaction, generating hopes that the combination of quantitative predictions and improved understanding could lead
