Analyzing Wind-Induced Snow Redistribution on Box Girder Bridges Using Wind Tunnel Tests
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 29, Issue 9
Abstract
With the increase in span, the flexibility and sensitivity to aerodynamic damage of bridges significantly increase. However, current research studies primarily focus on analyzing the single environment, leaving the safety and durability of bridges under extreme weather relatively understudied, such as snowdrift. This study selects four typical box girder bridges as test models to conduct wind tunnel tests. By analyzing similarity principles and particle properties, polyethylene particles are chosen as the test medium, and their simulation accuracy is validated using a step-type flat roof model. The study then explores wind-induced snow redistribution on the surfaces of the four box girder bridges under different horizontal wind speeds, initial particle heights, and wind attack angles. The results demonstrate that as the surface configurations of the test models become more complex, the particle redistribution becomes more chaotic. Among the three test conditions, the wind attack angle exerts the greatest influence, followed by horizontal wind speed and initial particle height. Notably, the dimensionless redistribution coefficients of particles on the surface of the large-span highway box girder bridge show the largest differences under these test conditions, with average differences and maximum differences reaching 50.3% and 63.5%, respectively, for different wind attack angles. These findings provide data support for the investigation of the safety and durability of real bridges under extreme weather conditions.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Sichuan Natural Science Foundation Project (2022NSFSC0428) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51878579, U21A20154).
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© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 22, 2023
Accepted: Apr 30, 2024
Published online: Jul 12, 2024
Published in print: Sep 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Dec 12, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Box girders
- Bridge engineering
- Bridge management
- Bridge tests
- Bridges
- Bridges (by type)
- Climates
- Cold regions engineering
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Environmental engineering
- Field tests
- Girder bridges
- Girders
- Laboratory tests
- Materials engineering
- Meteorology
- Particles
- Precipitation
- Snow
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Tests (by type)
- Wind engineering
- Wind speed
- Wind tunnel
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