Role of dynamic water rivulets in the excitation of rain–wind-induced cable vibration: A critical review

Abstract

It has been more than 30 years since Hikami Y and Shiraishi N (1988) Rain–wind-induced vibrations of cable-stayed bridges. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 29: 409–418 first reported the rain–wind-induced vibration (RWIV) of stay cables in the construction stage of Meikonishi Bridge, Japan. After that, considerable research efforts have been devoted to understanding the RWIV of stay cables, and the role of the upper rivulet has been gradually realized and studied. This study presents a selective review on recent progress of RWIV and its controversial excitation mechanism. The available knowledge and up-to-date understanding of this complex fluid-structure interaction are presented in some detail. The formation, dynamics of water rivulet, and its role in affecting the near-wall boundary layer properties and in the excitation scenario of RWIV are of particular interest in this study. Finally, some limitations of previous studies are concluded, with some perspective suggestions for further study of excitation mechanism of RWIV.