Wind Tunnel Testing for the Great Belt East Suspension Bridge

Reinhold, Timothy; Larsen, Allan; Damsgaard, Aage; Svensson, Eilif; ,

Wind Tunnel Testing for the Great Belt East Suspension Bridge

by Timothy Reinhold, Clemson Univ, Clemson, United States,
Allan Larsen, Clemson Univ, Clemson, United States,
Aage Damsgaard, Clemson Univ, Clemson, United States,
Eilif Svensson, Clemson Univ, Clemson, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Structural Engineering in Natural Hazards Mitigation

Abstract:

This paper provides an overview of model tests conducted to study and predict the aerodynamic behavior of the proposed streamlined box-girder suspension bridge for the Great Belt Link. Test conducted at the Danish Maritime Institute (DMI) involved both section models and a full-bridge aeroelastic model. The full-bridge model was tested in a new 13.6 meter wide boundary layer wind tunnel constructed at DMI for these tests. Taut-strip model tests were also carried out at the University of Western Ontario. This paper describes the model tests carried out and result obtained at DMI by a joint venture between DMI and SINTEF, Structural Engineering, Section models were used to investigate the influence of deck shape and equipment (such as wind screens) on vortex shedding excitation of the bridge, buffeting response in turbulent flow, and stability limits in smooth and turbulent flow. Section models were also used to determine aerodynamic derivatives in smooth flow and investigate the influence of wind screens, vehicles and guide vanes on the vortex shedding response of the bridge. The full-bridge model was tested in both smooth and turbulent flow with emphasis placed on vortex shedding response, buffeting response and stability limits. Effects of various constraints at the anchor blocks and towers, rotation of the bridge deck axis relative to the mean wind direction and the alteration of the deck cross-section by wind screens or snow buildup along the railings were investigated using the full-bridge model. This paper summarizes the major findings of the various tests.

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