Effect of Sidewalk Vents on Bridge Response to Wind
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 119, Issue 2
Abstract
Modifications to bridge deck structures, such as open‐grate sidewalks or vents, have been used with the goal of suppressing wind‐induced oscillations of long‐span bridges. This paper presents results of a detailed two‐dimensional wind‐tunnel study on the effect of different vent configurations on the vortex‐induced response and flutter susceptibility of an H‐section bridge (a 3/125 scale model of the Deer Isle bridge). The presence of the sidewalk vents is seen to have a strong influence on the characteristics of the flow around the deck. The vortex‐shedding process is not disrupted completely but merely reorganized around different frequencies. Vent configurations that render the deck stable at low wind speeds are seen to have a destabilizing effect at high wind speeds, and vice versa. It is seen that the judicious use of modifications to the deck structure can lead to a stable section in the wind‐speed range of interest. In particular, in this case both the static and the aeroelastic behavior of the model depend mainly on whether the windward vent is open or closed. The leeward vent appears to play a secondary role.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 119 • Issue 2 • February 1993
Pages: 484 - 504
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 29, 1991
Published online: Feb 1, 1993
Published in print: Feb 1993
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