Investigation of vortex-induced vibration of a cable-stayed bridge without backstays based on wind tunnel tests

Cable-stayed bridges without backstays located in the abrupt valley are sensitive to wind-induced structural vibrations. The understanding of vortex-induced vibration for specific aerodynamic configuration with glass deck is of great importance for structure design. This paper thus aims to investigate the vortex-induced vibration of a cable-stayed bridges without backstays through the segmental model test and scaled full-aeroelastic model wind tunnel test. The results indicate that the bridge presents the vertical vortex-induced vibrations at the low wind speed whereas the maximum wind velocity causing the torsional vortex-induced vibrations increases to 41 m/s, which is much larger than that of the traditional bridge. The vertical and torsional vortex-induced vibrations in the smooth flow are observed at the positive wind angle of attack, owing to the responses for the bridge deck present a sharp single-frequency amplitude when the frequency of vortex-shedding is close to the flexural vibration frequency. The turbulence can effectively suppress the vortex-induced vibrations and only some small peaks are visible in the turbulent flow. The vortex-induced response of the bridge deck is significantly alleviated with increasing of damping ratio. Finally, the vortex-induced vibrations in the uniform flow disappear and the wind-induced responses are impaired with the ventilated railing in place of the airtight railing because the flow can go through the railing. It can provide a designing basis for engineering reference of cable-stayed bridges without backstays.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the vortex-induced vibrations of cable-stayed bridges without backstays, showing different types of vibrations under various wind speeds. The responses of the bridge deck to vortex-induced vibrations change under the influence of wind flow, especially at positive wind angles of attack.