Improvement of Aerodynamic Performance and Energy Supply of Bridges Using Small Wind Turbines
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 20, Issue 10
Abstract
This study proposes a methodology of using small wind turbines for dual purposes, improving the aerodynamic performance of flexible bridges and wind-energy harvesting. A method for the proper placement of small wind turbines on flexible bridges was proposed according to the analogy of conventional aerodynamic appendages. The effectiveness of the proposed method was investigated using the wind-tunnel tests for a bridge girder. It was found from the tests that the wind turbine attached analogously to a fairing was effective for decreasing the vortex-induced vibration of a bridge girder. The optimal spanwise interval of the wind turbines was three times the turbine diameter depending on the distance from the girder edge. The annual energy productions of the wind turbines at the bridge were evaluated from the wind velocity and its probability model at the site. The results of the current study show the general applicability of wind turbines for the improvement of aerodynamic performance and energy supply of flexible bridges, although the capacity of wind-power generation was dependent on the wind characteristics at the bridge site.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (2013R1A1A4A01005784).
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 20 • Issue 10 • October 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 26, 2014
Accepted: Oct 10, 2014
Published online: Nov 11, 2014
Published in print: Oct 1, 2015
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