Real-Time Aeroelastic Hybrid Simulation Method for a Flexible Bridge Deck Section Model

To address the challenges in predicting the aeroelastic phenomenon and the resulting wind-induced forces on slender bridges, a real-time aeroelastic hybrid simulation (RTAHS) system was developed. The RTAHS system directly measures the aerodynamic and aeroelastic forces through load cells. It controls the next step’s position of the deck section model with linear motors by solving the governing equations of motion in real time. Given the complex shape of a bridge deck section geometry, load cells are chosen for force measurement instead of as pressure sensors. In the previous RTAHS system proposed by the authors, the inertial forces of a rectangular section model were eliminated from the measured forces under the assumption of the model’s rigid-body motion. However, when conducting RTAHS experiments with a realistic bridge deck section model, increasing the mass ratio between the mass of the model and the target mass input to the hybrid system results in unstable vibrations. This instability is primarily attributed to forces generated by the model’s flexibility. This study developed an improved RTAHS system, which took into account the inertial forces arising from the nonrigid motion of the flexible bridge deck section model. An accelerometer was additionally installed at the midpoint of the model, and the inertial forces caused by the nonrigid behavior were compensated using a calibration factor derived from impact hammer tests. This approach was validated by comparing the spring-supported experiments conducted on a realistic bridge deck section model.