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Two types of aerodynamic admittance function (AAF) that have been adopted in bridge aerodynamics are addressed. The first type is based on a group of supposed relations between flutter derivatives and AAFs. In so doing, the aero-elastic properties of a section could be used to determine AAFs. It is found that the supposed relations hold only for cases when the gust frequencies are within a veiy low range. Predominant frequencies of long-span bridges are, however, far away from this range. In this sense, the AAFs determined this way are of little practical significance. Another type of AAFs is based on the relation between the Theodorsen circulation function and the Sears function, which holds for thin airfoil theories. It is found, however, that an obvious illogicality exists in this methodology either. In this article, a viewpoint is put forward that AAFs of bluff bridge deck sections are inherently dependent on oncoming turbulent properties. This kind of dependence is investigated with a thin plate and a double-girder bluff section via computational fluid dynamics method. Two types of wind fluctuations are used for identification of AAFs. One is turbulent wind flow while the other is harmonic. The numerical results indicate that AAFs of the thin plate agree well with the Sears AAF, and show no obvious dependence on the oncoming wind fields. In contrast, for the case of bluff double-girder section, AAFs identified from the turbulent and hannonic flows of different amplitudes differ among each other, exhibiting obvious dependence on the oncoming wind field properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local transient extreme wind loads caused by group tower-related interference are among the major reasons that lead to wind-induced damage of super-large cooling towers. Four-tower arrangements are the most commonly seen patterns for super-large cooling towers. We considered five typical four-tower arrangements in engineering practice, namely, single row, rectangular, rhombic, L-shaped, and oblique L-shaped. Wind tunnel tests for rigid body were performed to determine the influence of different arrangements on static and dynamic wind loads and extreme interference effect. The most unfavorable working conditions (i.e., the largest overall wind loads) were determined based on the overall aerodynamic coefficient under different four-tower arrangements. Then we calculated the one-, two- and three-dimensional aerodynamic loads under different four-tower arrangements. Statistical analyses were performed on the wind pressure signals in the amplitude and time domains under the most unfavorable working conditions. On this basis, the non-Gaussian distribution characteristics of aerodynamic loads on tire surface of the cooling towers under different four-tower arrangements were analyzed. We applied the Sadek-Simiu procedure to the calculation of two- and three-dimensional aerodynamic loads in the cooling towers under the four-tower arrangements, and the extreme wind load distribution patterns under the most unfavorable working conditions in each arrangement were compared. Finally, we proposed a uniform equation for fitting the extreme wind loads under the four-tower arrangements; the accuracy and reliability of the equation were verified. Our research findings will contribute to the optimization of the four-tower arrangements and the determination of extreme wind loads of super-large cooling towers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unsteady flow field disturbance between the blades and tower is one of the primary factors affecting the aerodynamic perfonnance of wind turbine. Based on the research object of a 3MW horizontal axis wind turbine which was developed independently by Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, numerical simulation on the aerodynamic perfonnance of wind turbine system in halt state with blades in different position was conducted using large eddy simulation (LES) method. Based on the 3D unsteady numerical simulation results in a total of eight conditions (determined by the relative position with the tower during the complete rotation process of the blade), the characteristics of wind pressure distributions of the wind turbine system and action mechanism of surrounding flow field were analysed. The effect of different position of blades on the aerodynamic perfonnance of wind turbine in halt state as well as the disturbance effect was evaluated. Results of the study showed that the halt position of blades had significant effect on the wind pressure distribution of the wind turbine system as well as the characteristics of flow around. Relevant conclusions from this study provided reference for the wind-resistant design of large scale wind turbine system in different halt states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperbolic thin-shell cooling towers have complicated vibration modes, and are very sensitive to the effects of group towers and wind-induced vibrations. Traditional aero-elastic models of cooling towers are usually designed based on the method of stiffness simulation by continuous medium thin shell materials. However, the method has some shortages in actual engineering applications, so the so-called "equivalent beam-net design method" of aero-elastic models of cooling towers is proposed in the paper and an aero-elastic model with a proportion of 1: 200 based on the method above with integrated pressure measurements and vibration measurements has been designed and carried out in TJ-3 wind tunnel of Tongji university. According to the wind tunnel test, this paper discusses the impacts of self-excited force effect on the surface wind pressure of a large-scale cooling tower and the results show that the impact of self-excited force on the distribution characteristics of average surface wind pressure is very small, but the impact on the form of distribution and numerical value of fluctuating wind pressure is relatively large. Combing with the Complete Quadratic Combination method (hereafter referred to as CQC method), the paper further studies the numerical sizes and distribution characteristics of background components, resonant components, cross-term components and total fluctuating wind-induced vibration responses of some typical nodes which indicate that the resonance response is dominant in the fluctuating wind-induced vibration response and cross-term components are not negligible for wind-induced vibration responses of super-large cooling towers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the assistance of typhoon field data at aerial elevation level observed by meteorological satellites and wind velocity and direction records nearby the ground gathered in Guangzhou Weather Station between 1985 and 2001, some key wind field parameters under typhoon climate in Guangzhou region were calibrated based on Monte-Carlo stochastic algorithm and Meng's typhoon numerical model. By using Peak Over Threshold method (POT) and Generalized Pareto Distribution (GPD), Wind field characteristics during typhoons for various return periods in several typical engineering fields were predicted, showing that some distribution rules in relation to gradient height of atmosphere boundary layer, power-law component of wind profile, gust factor and extreme wind velocity at 1-3s time interval are obviously different from corresponding items in Chinese wind load Codes. In order to evaluate the influence of typhoon field parameters on long-span flexible bridges, 1:100 reduced-scale wind field of type B terrain was re-illustrated under typhoon and normal conditions utilizing passive turbulence generators in TJ-3 wind tunnel, and wind-induced performance tests of aero-elastic model of long-span Guangzhou Xinguang arch bridge were carried out as well. Furthermore, aerodynamic admittance function about lattice cross section in mid-span arch lib under the condition of higher turbulence intensity of typhoon field was identified via using high-frequency force-measured balance. Based on identified aerodynamic admittance expressions, Wind-induced stochastic vibration of Xinguang arch bridge under typhoon and normal climates was calculated and compared, considering structural geometrical non-linearity, stochastic wind attack angle effects, etc. Thus, the aerodynamic response characteristics under typhoon and normal conditions can be illustrated and checked, which are of satisfactory response results for different oncoming wind velocities with resemblance to those wind tunnel testing data under the two types of climate modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vortex-induced oscillation is a type of aeroelastic phenomenon, to which extended structures such as long-span bridges are most susceptible. The vortex-induced vibration (VIV) behaviors of a concerned bridge were investigated conventionally in virtue of wind tunnel tests on string-mounted sectional models. This necessitates the building of a linkage between the response of the sectional model and that of the prototype structure. Although many released literatures have related to this issue and provided suggestions, there is a lack of consistency among them. In this study, some theoretical models describing the vortex-induced structural motion, including the linear empirical model, the nonlinear empirical model and the modified (or generalized) nonlinear empirical model, are firstly reviewed. Then, the concept of equivalent mass density is introduced based on the principle that an equal input of energy should result in identical structural amplitudes. Based on these, the theoretical linkages between the amplitude of a section model and that corresponding to the prototype bridge are discussed with different analytical models. Theoretical derivation indicates that such connections are dependent mainly on two factors, one is the presupposed shape of deformation, and the other is the theoretical VIV model employed. The theoretical analysis in this study shows that, in comparison to the nonlinear empirical models, the linear one can result in obvious larger estimations of the full bridges' responses, especially in cases of cable-stayed bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of turbulent boundary layers over hilly terrain depend strongly on the hill slope and upstream condition, especially inflow turbulence. Numerical simulations are carried out to investigate the neutrally stratified turbulent boundary layer over two-dimensional hills. Two kinds of hill shape, a steep one with stable separation and a low one without stable separation, and two kinds of inflow condition, laminar and turbulent, are considered. An auxiliary simulation, based on the local differential quadrature method and the recycling technique, is performed to simulate the inflow turbulence to be imposed at the inlet boundary of the simulation with turbulent inflow, which preserves very well in the computational domain. A large separation bubble is established on the leeside of the steep hill with laminar inflow, while the reattachment point moves upstream under turbulent inflow condition. There is stable separation on the lee side of the low hill with laminar inflow, while not with turbulent inflow. Besides increase of turbulence intensity, inflow turbulence can efficiently enhance the speedup around hills.So in practice, it is unreasonable to study wind flow over hilly terrain without considering inflow turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new analysis framework for predicting the internal buffeting forces in bridge components under skew wind. A linear regressive model between the internal buffeting force and deformation under normal wind is derived based on mathematical statistical theory. Applying this regression model under normal wind and the time history of buffeting displacement under skew wind with different yaw angles in wind tunnel tests, internal buffeting forces in bridge components can be obtained directly, without using the complex theory of buffeting analysis under skew wind. A self-anchored suspension bridge with a main span of 260 m and a steel arch bridge with a main span of 450 m are selected as case studies to illustrate the application of this linear regressive framework. The results show that the regressive model between internal buffeting force and displacement may be of high significance and can also be applied in the skew wind case with proper regressands, and the most unfavorable internal buffeting forces often occur under yaw wind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For long-span suspension bridges with their intrinsic limit in flutter, some counter measures, for example, central stabilizers, should be adopted to improve aerodynamic stability to meet with the appropriate wind resistance requirements. The present paper introduces aerodynamic stabilization for long-span suspension bridges with box girders by using central stabilizers based on Xihoumen Bridge with the main span of 1650 m. The aerodynamic stabilization study covers experimental investigation of sectional model testing, comprehensive evaluation of three central stabilizers and theoretical analysis of stabilizing mechanism related to flutter derivatives, aerodynamic damping and degree participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerodynamic flutter control for long-span cable-supported bridges was investigated based on three basic girder sections, i.e. streamlined box girder section, box girder section with cantilevered slabs and two-isolated-girder section. Totally four kinds of aerodynamic flutter control measures (adding fairings, central-slotting, adding central stabilizers and adjusting the position of inspection rail) were included in this research. Their flutter control effects on different basic girder sections were evaluated by sectional model or aeroelastic model wind tunnel tests. It is found that all basic girder sections can get aerodynamically more stabled with appropriate aerodynamic flutter control measures, while the control effects are influenced by the details of control measures and girder section configurations. The control effects of the combinations of these four kinds of aerodynamic flutter control measures, such as central-slotting plus central-stabilizer, were also investigated through sectional model wind tunnel tests, summarized and compared to the flutter control effect of single measure respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the along-wind, across-wind as well as torsional dynamic wind loads on three kinds of lattice tower models are investigated using the base balance technique in a boundary layer wind tunnel. The models were specially designed, and their fundamental frequencies in the directions of the three principal axes are still in the frequency range of the spectra of wind loads on lattice towers. In order to clear contaminations to the spectra of wind loads induced by model resonance, the generalized force spectra of the first mode of the models in along-wind, across-wind and torsional directions were derived based on measured base moments of the models. The RMS generalized force coefficients are also obtained by removing their contributions of model resonance. Finally, the characteristics of the 3-D dynamic wind loads, especially those of the across-wind dynamic loads, on the three kinds of lattice towers are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-dimensional flutter analysis method (2d-3DOF method) was developed to simultaneously investigate the relationship between oscillation parameters and aerodynamic derivatives of three degrees of freedom, and to clarify the coupling effects of different degrees of freedom in flutter instability. With this method, the flutter mechanism of two typical bridge deck sections, box girder section and two-isolated-girder section, were numerically investigated, and both differences and common ground in these two typical flutter phenomena are summarized. Then the flutter stabilization effect and its mechanism for longspan bridges with box girders by using central-slotting were studied by experimental investigation of aerodynamic stability and theoretical analysis of stabilizing mechanism. Possible explanation of new findings in the evaluation trend of critical wind speed through central vent width is finally presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]