Aerodynamic characteristics of a streamlined box girder under shear flow considering oncoming turbulence

Abstract

Non-synoptic winds, such as typhoons and downbursts, are frequently characterized by shear flow associated with turbulence, which affects the aerodynamic performance of long-span bridges. To reveal the aerodynamic characteristics of streamlined box girders under non-synoptic winds, multi-fan wind tunnel (MFWT) tests were used to investigate the aerodynamic effect around a streamlined box girder considering the action of shear flow with different velocity gradients, turbulence intensities, and integral scales. In the MFWT tests, the high shear rate and large turbulence intensity were observed to magnify the mean wind pressure coefficient, whereas the variation in the turbulence integral scale had a slight effect on the mean wind pressure coefficient distribution. An increase in the shear rate was observed to be beneficial in reducing the drag and moment coefficients, as well as in increasing the lift coefficient. The empirical aerodynamic prediction relationships revealed that the influence of turbulence intensity on the aerodynamic coefficient is non-linear, whereas that of the turbulence integral scale and shear rate on the aerodynamic coefficient is linear. Additionally, the large eddy simulation (LES) method was used to study the vortex-shedding behaviors and aerodynamic spectrum characteristics of the streamlined box girder under shear flow. The LES results showed that larger shear parameters amplify the amplitudes of high-frequency aerodynamic forces. The vortex frequently begins from the low-velocity side of the streamlined box girder, which induces a suction effect on the low-velocity side that is greater than that on the high-velocity side.