Research on Effective Design Methods of Core Beam of Full Bridge Aeroelastic Model

Abstract

The trial-and-error method is complex and tedious, but often adapted to determine the cross-section sizes of core beams in the design of reduced-scale models. In this study, two optimization methods, the optimization methods in ANSYS and the genetic algorithm, are investigated to optimize the cross-section sizes of core beams of reduced-scale models, which centers around two targeted moments of inertia and a targeted torsion constant. Due to the difficulty of obtaining an analytical solution of the torsion constant, a series of numerical solutions are proposed. Then, taking a U-shaped cross section as an example, the four geometric sizes of the section are optimized by the ANSYS optimization method and the genetic algorithm, respectively. The results of both methods are in good agreement with the targeted values, but the ANSYS optimization method is prone to fall into the local optimization zone and hence could be easily affected by the initial values. The shortcomings of the ANSYS optimization method can be easily avoided by the genetic algorithm, and it is easier to reach the global optimal solution. Finally, taking a suspension bridge with a main span of 920 m as a prototype, the full-bridge aeroelastic model is designed and the genetic algorithm is used to optimize the cross-section sizes of core beams in the bridge tower and the deck. Natural frequencies identified from the aeroelastic model agree well with the target ones, indicating the structural stiffness, which is provided by the core beams, has been modelled successfully.