Vertical and torsional vibrations before the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940

We perform a three-dimensional direct numerical simulation of flow over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to understand the vertical and torsional vibrations that occurred before its collapse in 1940. Real-scale structural parameters of the bridge are used for the simulation. The Reynolds number based on the free-stream velocity and height of the deck fence is lower (Re = 10 000) than the actual one on the day of its collapse (Re = 3.06 x 10(6)), but the magnitude of a fluid property is modified to provide the real-scale aerodynamic force and moment on the deck. The vertical and torsional vibrations are simulated through two-way coupling of the fluid flow and structural motion. The vertical vibration occurs from the frequency lock-in with the vortex shedding, and its wavelength and frequency agree well with the recorded data in 1940. After saturation of the vertical vibration, a torsional vibration resulting from the aeroelastic fluttering grows exponentially in time, with its wavelength and frequency in excellent agreement with the recorded data of the incident. The critical flutter wind speed for the growth of torsional vibration is obtained as 3.56 < U-c/(f(nat)B) <= 4, where U-c is the critical flutter wind speed, f(nat) is the natural frequency of the torsional vibration and B is the deck width. Finally, apart from the actual vibration process in 1940, we perform more numerical simulations to investigate the roles of the free-stream velocity and vertical vibration in the growth of the torsional vibration.

Automated summary

We conducted a direct numerical simulation of the flow over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to reproduce the vertical and torsional vibrations that occurred before its collapse in 1940. The simulation used real-scale structural parameters and modified the fluid property to provide realistic aerodynamic force and moment. Through the simulation, we observed vertical vibration resulting from vortex shedding frequency lock-in, followed by exponential growth of torsional vibration due to aeroelastic fluttering. We also investigated the roles of free-stream velocity and vertical vibration in the growth of torsional vibration.