Study of Nonlinear Aerodynamic Self-Excited Force in Flutter Bifurcation and Limit Cycle Oscillation of Long-Span Suspension Bridge

Abstract

This article establishes a nonlinear flutter system for a long-span suspension bridge, aiming to analyze its supercritical flutter response under the influence of nonlinear aerodynamic self-excited force. By fitting the experimental discrete values of flutter derivatives using the least squares method, a polynomial function of flutter derivatives with respect to reduced wind speed is obtained. Flutter critical value is determined by the linear matrix eigenvalues of a state-space equation. The occurrence of a supercritical Hopf bifurcation in the nonlinear system is determined by the Jacobian matrix eigenvalues of the state-space equation and the system’s vibrational response at the critical state. The vibrational response of the supercritical state is obtained through Runge–Kutta integration, revealing the presence of stable limit cycle oscillation (LCO) and unstable limit cycle oscillation in the system, and through analyzing the relationship between the LCO amplitude and wind speed. Considering cubic nonlinear damping and stiffness, the effects of different factors on the nonlinear flutter system are analyzed.