Toward an Improvement in the Identification of Bridge Deck Flutter Derivatives
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 135, Issue 8
Abstract
This paper presents a short review of the state-of-the-art methods to identify bridge deck flutter derivatives and proposes a new algorithm to simultaneously extract the aeroelastic coefficients from free-vibration section-model tests, which is based on the improvement of the unifying least-squares (ULS) method and is therefore called modified unifying least-squares method. The advantages with respect to ULS are the faster and better convergence and the improvement in accuracy due to the introduction of weighting factors in the unifying error function. The method has been validated through numerically simulated noisy signals and experimental heaving and pitching time histories for two different bridge deck cross sections: a single-box and a multiple-box girder section model. The analysis of the artificial signals shows that a few system parameters are very difficult to be identified due to the fact that the problem is strongly ill-conditioned. Nevertheless, all the diagonal and off-diagonal components of the stiffness and damping matrices which significantly contribute to the output of the system are correctly estimated. The improvement with respect to other methods is extensively discussed. For the wind-tunnel test cases the accuracy of the identification procedure is evaluated through the comparison between measured signals and those simulated through the estimated mechanical and aerodynamic system parameters with very satisfactory results. With respect to many previous attempts of validation, this approach clearly shows the degree of accuracy that can be expected from the identification algorithm. Finally, for the considered test cases the linear model which stands behind the method seems to be an acceptable approximation of the physics of the phenomenon.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This work has partially been supported by Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR)MIUR as a part of the National Research Programs WINDERFUL (Wind and Infrastructures: Dominating Eolian Risk For Utilities and Lifelines) and PERBACCO (Life-Cycle Performance, Innovation and Design Criteria for Structures and Infrastructures Facing Aeolian and Other Natural Hazards).
References
Bartoli, G., D’Asdia, P., Febo, S., Mannini, C., Pastò, S., and Procino, L. (2007). “Innovative solutions for the design of long-span bridges: Investigation on the aeroelastic behavior of multiple-box girder deck sections.” Proc., 12th Int. Conf. on Wind Engineering, Cairns, Australia, Australian Wind Engineering Society (AWES).
Bartoli, G., and Mannini, C. (2005). “From multimodal to bimodal approach to flutter.” Proc., 6th European Conf. on Structural Dynamics, Paris, C. Soize and G. I. Schuëller, eds., Millpress, 349–354.
Bartoli, G., and Mannini, C. (2008). “A simplified approach to bridge deck flutter.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 96(2), 229–256.
Bartoli, G., Ricciardelli, F., Saetta, A., and Sepe, V. (2006). “Performance of wind exposed structures.” Results of the PERBACCO project, Firenze University Press, Florence, Italy.
Bartoli, G., and Righi, M. (2006). “Flutter mechanism for rectangular prisms in smooth and turbulent flow.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 94(5), 275–291.
Bogunovic Jakobsen, J. (1995). “Fluctuating wind load and response of a line-like engineering structure with emphasis on motion-induced wind forces.” Ph.D. thesis, Norwegian Institute of Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Bogunovic Jakobsen, J., and Hjorth-Hansen, E. (1995). “Determination of the aerodynamic derivatives by a system identification method.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 57(2–3), 295–305.
Caracoglia, L., and Jones, N. P. (2003). “A methodology for the experimental extraction of indicial functions for streamlined and bluff deck sections.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 91(5), 609–636.
Chen, A., He, X., and Xiang, H. (2002). “Identification of 18 flutter derivatives of bridge decks.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 90(12–15), 2007–2022.
Chen, X., and Kareem, A. (2006). “Revisiting multimode coupled bridge flutter: Some new insights.” J. Eng. Mech., 132(10), 1115–1123.
Chowdhury, A. G., and Sarkar, P. P. (2003). “A new technique for identification of eighteen flutter derivatives using a three-degree-of-freedom section model.” Eng. Struct., 25(14), 1763–1772.
Chowdhury, A. G., and Sarkar, P. P. (2005). “Experimental identification of rational function coefficients for time-domain flutter analysis.” Eng. Struct., 27(9), 1349–1364.
Contri, S. (2003). “Il flutter negli impalcati da ponte: Identificazione delle derivate aeroelastiche in galleria del vento.” Master’s thesis, Univ. of Florence, Italy (in Italian).
Costa, C., Borri, C., Flamand, O., and Grillaud, G. (2007). “Time-domain buffeting simulations for wind-bridge interaction.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 95(9–11), 991–1006.
Diana, G., Resta, F., Zasso, A., Belloli, M., and Rocchi, D. (2004). “Forced motion and free motion aeroelastic tests on a new concept dynamometric section model of the Messina suspension bridge.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 92(6), 441–462.
Fathi, S. (2004). “Méthodes d’identification des coefficients aéroélastiques des tabliers de ponts: Application à la technique CBHM.” EN-CAPE 04.015 R, CSTB, Nantes, France (in French).
Gu, M., and Qin, X.-R. (2004). “Direct identification of flutter derivatives and aerodynamic admittances of bridge decks.” Eng. Struct., 26(14), 2161–2172.
Gu, M., Zhang, R., and Xiang, H. (2000). “Identification of flutter derivatives of bridge decks.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 84(2), 151–162.
Gu, M., Zhang, R., and Xiang, H. (2001). “Parametric study on flutter derivatives of bridge decks.” Eng. Struct., 23(12), 1607–1613.
Ibrahim, S. R., and Mikulcik, E. C. (1977). “A method for the direct identification of vibration parameters from the free response.” Shock and Vibration Bull., 47(4), 183–198.
Iwamoto, M., and Fujino, Y. (1995). “Identification of flutter derivatives of bridge deck from free vibration data.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 54–55, 55–63.
Jain, A., Jones, N. P., and Scanlan, R. H. (1996). “Coupled flutter and buffeting analysis of long-span bridges.” J. Struct. Eng., 122(7), 716–725.
Katsuchi, H., Jones, N. P., and Scanlan, R. H. (1999). “Multimode coupled flutter and buffeting analysis of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.” J. Struct. Eng., 125(1), 60–70.
Li, Q. C. (1995). “Measuring flutter derivatives for bridge sectional models in water channel.” J. Eng. Mech., 121(1), 90–101.
Li, Y., Liao, H., and Qiang, S. (2003). “Weighting ensemble least-square method for flutter derivatives of bridge decks.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 91(6), 713–721.
Mannini, C. (2006). “Flutter vulnerability assessment of flexible bridges.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Florence, Italy–TU Braunschweig, Germany (Verlag Dr. Müller, Saarbrücken, 2008).
Mannini, C., and Bartoli, G. (2006). “Analisi del comportamento aeroelastico di un impalcato da ponte a cassone unicellulare.” Proc., 9th Italian National Conf. on Wind Engineering IN-VENTO, P. D’Asdia, V. Sepe, and S. Febo, eds., Pescara, Italy, Litografia Botolini s.r.l. (in Italian).
Matsumoto, M. (1996). “Aerodynamic damping of prisms.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 59(2–3), 159–175.
Poulsen, N. K., Damsgaard, A., and Reinhold, T. A. (1992). “Determination of flutter derivatives for the Great Belt Bridge.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 41(1–3), 153–164.
Ricciardelli, F., and de Grenet, E. T. (2002). “Evaluation of bridge flutter derivatives from wind excited vibration of section models.” Proc., 5th European Conf. on Structural Dynamics, H. Grundmann, and G. I. Schuëller, eds., Munich, Germany, Taylor and Francis, London, 587–592.
Righi, M. (2003). “Aeroelastic stability of long span suspended bridges: Flutter mechanism on rectangular cylinders in smooth and turbulent flow.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Florence, Italy.
Sarkar, P. P. (1992). “New identification methods applied to the response of flexible bridges to wind.” Ph.D. thesis, Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore.
Sarkar, P. P., Jones, N. P., and Scanlan, R. H. (1994). “Identification of aeroelastic parameters of flexible bridges.” J. Eng. Mech., 120(8), 1718–1742.
Scanlan, R. H., and Tomko, J. J. (1971). “Airfoil and bridge deck flutter derivatives.” J. Engrg. Mech. Div., 97(6), 1717–1737.
Shinozuka, M., Yun, C. B., and Imai, H. (1982). “Identification of linear structure dynamic system.” J. Engrg. Mech. Div., 108(6), 1371–1390.
Simiu, E., and Scanlan, R. H. (1996). Wind effects on structures, 3rd Ed., Wiley, New York.
Singh, L., Jones, N. P., Scanlan, R. H., and Lorendeaux, O. (1995). “Simultaneous identification of 3-dof aeroelastic parameters.” Proc., 9th Int. Conf. on Wind Engineering, Wiley, New Delhi, India, 972–981.
Theodorsen, T. (1934). “General theory of aerodynamic instability and the mechanism of flutter.” NACA Technical Rep. No. 496, Annual Rep. No. 20, NACA, Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
Yamada, H., Miyata, T., and Ichikawa, H. (1992). “Measurement of aerodynamic coefficients by system identification methods.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 42(1–3), 1255–1263.
Zasso, A., Cigada, A., and Negri, S. (1996). “Flutter derivatives identification through full bridge aeroelastic model transfer function analysis.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 60, 17–33.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 5, 2007
Accepted: Feb 20, 2009
Published online: Jul 15, 2009
Published in print: Aug 2009
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Andrew W. Smyth
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.