• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.215-233
• /
• 2014

This paper presents a method to extract flutter derivatives of bridge decks based on a combination of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD), system simulations and system identifications. The incompressible solver adopts an Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) formulation with the finite volume discretization in space. The imposed sectional motion in heaving or pitching relies on exponential time series as input, with aerodynamic forces time histories acting on the section evaluated as output. System identifications are carried out to fit coefficients of the inputs and outputs of ARMA models, as to establish discrete-time aerodynamic models. System simulations of the established models are then performed as to obtain the lift and moment exerting on the sections to a sinusoidal displacement. It follows that flutter derivatives are identified. The present approaches are applied to a hexagon thin plate and a real bridge deck. The results are compared to the Theodorsen closed-form solution and those from wind tunnel tests. Satisfactory agreements are observed.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.373-388
• /
• 2005

Quasi-steady approaches have been often adopted to model wind forces on moving cylinders in cross-flow and to study instability conditions of rigid cylinders supported by visco-elastic devices. Recently, much attention has been devoted to the experimental study of inclined and/or yawed circular cylinders detecting dynamical phenomena such as galloping-like instability, but, at the present state-of-the-art, no mathematical model is able to recognize or predict satisfactorily this behaviour. The present paper presents a generalization of the quasi-steady approach for the definition of the flow-induced forces on yawed and inclined circular cylinders. The proposed model is able to replicate experimental behaviour and to predict the galloping instability observed during a series of recent wind-tunnel tests.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.193-212
• /
• 2013

The Endless Column by Constantin Brâncuşi is "the most radical sculpture in the history of classic modernism", "the only one of modern times that can be compared with the great Egyptian, Greek and Renaissance monuments". It "is not only an artistic masterpiece, but also an extraordinary feat of engineering", the greatest example of collaboration between a sculptor and an engineer. This article illustrates the path that led the artist to conception of the column, its planning and construction, the investigations on preservation of the monument and its restoration, the aerodynamic tests in the wind tunnel, the modeling of the wind and the structure in virtue of which the aeroelastic instability, dynamic response and fatigue life were investigated. The conclusions discuss the column's role in the panorama of the great works of modern engineering.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.171-180
• /
• 2019

This paper presents a restart iterative approach for time-domain flutter analysis of long-span bridges using the commercial FE package ANSYS. This approach utilizes the recursive formats of impulse-response-function expressions for bridge's aeroelastic forces. Nonlinear dynamic equilibrium equations are iteratively solved by using the restart technique in ANSYS, which enable the equilibrium state of system to get back to last moment absolutely during iterations. The condition for the onset of flutter instability becomes that, at a certain wind velocity, the amplitude of vibration is invariant with time. A long-span suspension bridge was taken as a numerical example to verify the applicability and accuracy of the proposed method by comparing calculated results with wind tunnel tests. The proposed method enables the bridge designers and engineering practitioners to carry out time-domain flutter analysis of bridges in commercial FE package ANSYS.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.6 no.6
• /
• pp.485-498
• /
• 2003

This paper presents a mechanical model of Rain-Wind Induced Vibration (RWIV) of stay cables. It is based on the physical interpretation of the phenomenon as given in Cosentino, et al. (2003, referred as Part I). The model takes into account all the main forces acting on cable, on the upper water rivulet (responsible of the excitation) and the cable-rivulet interaction. It is a simplified (cable cross-sectional and deterministic) representation of the actual (stochastic and three-dimensional) phenomenon. The cable is represented by its cross section and it is subjected to mechanical and aerodynamic (considering the rivulet influence) forces. The rivulet is supposed to oscillate along the cable circumference and it is subjected to inertial and gravity forces, pressure gradients and air-water-cable frictions. The model parameters are calibrated by fitting with experimental results. In order to validate the proposed model and its physical basis, different conditions (wind speed and direction, cable frequency, etc.) have been numerically investigated. The results, which are in very good agreement with the RWIV field observations, confirm the validity of the method and its engineering applicability (to evaluate the RWIV sensitivity of new stays or to retrofit the existing ones). Nevertheless, the practical use of the model probably requires a more accurate calibration of some parameters through new and specifically oriented wind tunnel tests.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.305-315
• /
• 2018

A numerical study based on a delayed detached eddy simulation (DDES) is conducted to investigate the aerodynamic mechanism behind the suppression of vortex-induced vibrations (VIVs) of twin box girders by central grids, which have an inhibition effect on VIVs, as evidenced by the results of section model wind tunnel tests. The mean aerodynamic force coefficients with different attack angles are compared with experimental results to validate the numerical method. Next, the flow structures around the deck and the aerodynamic forces on the deck are analyzed to enhance the understanding of the occurrence of VIVs and the suppression of VIVs by the application of central grids. The results show that shear layers are separated from the upper railings and lower overhaul track of the upstream girder and induce large-scale vortices in the gap that cause periodical lift forces of large amplitude acting on the downstream girder, resulting in VIVs of the bridge deck. However, the VIVs are apparently suppressed by the central grids because the vortices in the central gap are reduced into smaller vortices and become weaker, causing slightly fluctuating lift forces on the deck. In addition, the mean lift force on the deck is mainly caused by the upstream girder, whereas the fluctuating lift force is mainly caused by the downstream girder.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.331-352
• /
• 2015

A series of wind tunnel tests were conducted on tapered super high-rise buildings with a square cross section by applying synchronous pressure measurement technology. The effects of global strategy of chamfered modification on aerodynamic loads and wind-induced responses were investigated. Moreover, local aerodynamic strategies of opening a ventilation slot in the corner of equipment and refuge floors were carried out. Results show that the global strategy of tapered elevation increased the vortex shedding frequency, but reduced vortex shedding energy, leading to reduction of across-wind aerodynamic loads and responses. Chamfered modification suppressed the across-wind vortex shedding effect on tapered buildings. Opening the ventilation slot further suppressed the strength of vortex shedding and reduced the residual energy related to vortex shedding in aerodynamic loads of chamfered buildings. Finally, the optimized locations of local aerodynamic strategies were suggested.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.293-307
• /
• 2010

This paper describes a new method for the estimation of six complex aerodynamic admittance functions. The aerodynamic admittance functions relate buffeting forces to the incoming wind turbulent components, of which the estimation accuracy affects the prediction accuracy of the buffeting response of long-span bridges. There should be two aerodynamic admittance functions corresponding to the longitudinal and vertical turbulent components, respectively, for each gust buffeting force. Therefore, there are six aerodynamic admittance functions in all for the three buffeting forces. Sears function is a complex theoretical expression for the aerodynamic admittance function for a thin airfoil. Similarly, the aerodynamic admittance functions for a bridge deck should also be complex functions. This paper presents a separated frequency-by-frequency method for estimating the six complex aerodynamic admittance functions. A new experimental methodology using an active turbulence generator is developed to measure simultaneously all the six complex aerodynamic admittance functions. Wind tunnel tests of a thin plate model and a streamlined bridge section model are conducted in turbulent flow. The six complex aerodynamic admittance functions, determined by the developed methodology are compared with the Sears functions and Davenport's formula.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.215-220
• /
• 2023

We study the progressive full-scale wind tunnel tests on a high solidity vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) for various tip speeds and pitch angles to understand the VAWT shaft system's dynamics using 0-1 Test for chaos. We identify that while varying rotor speed (tip speed) of the turbine, the system's dynamics change from periodic to chaotic through quasiperiodic and strange non-chaotic (SNA) states. The present study is the first experimental evidence for the existence of these states in the VAWT shaft system to the best of our knowledge. Using the asymptotic growth value Kc in 0-1 test, when the turbine operates at the low tip speeds and high pitch angles for low incoming wind speeds, the system behaves periodic (Kc ≈ 0). However, when the incoming wind speed increases further the system's dynamics shift from periodic to chaotic vibrations through quasi-periodic and SNA. This phenomenon is due to the dynamic stalling of blades which induces chaotic vibration in the VAWT shaft system. Further, the singular continuous spectrum method validates the presence of SNA and differentiates the SNA from chaotic vibrations.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.1-18
• /
• 2016

This work experimentally and numerically analyzes the flow configurations and the dynamic wind loads on panels of rectangular L/h 5:1 cross section mounted on a structural frame of rectangular bars of L/h 0.5:1, corresponding to a radar structure. The fluid dynamic interaction between panels and frame wakes imposes dynamic loads on the panels, with particular frequencies and Strouhal numbers, different from those of isolated elements. The numerical scheme is validated by comparison with mean forces and velocity spectra of a panel wake obtained by wind tunnel tests. The flow configuration is analyzed through images of the numerical simulations. For a large number of panels, as in the radar array, their wakes couple in either phase or counter-phase configurations, changing the resultant forces on each panel. Instantaneous normal and tangential force coefficients are reported; their spectra show two distinct peaks, caused by the interaction of the wakes. Finally, a scaled model of a rectangular structure comprised of panels and frame elements is tested in the boundary layer wind tunnel in order to determine the influence of the velocity variation with height and the three-dimensionality of the bulk flow around the structure. Results show that the unsteady aerodynamic loads, being strongly influenced by the vortex shedding of the supporting elements and by the global 3-D geometry of the array, differ considerably on a panel in this array from loads acting on an isolated panel, not only in magnitude, but also in frequency.