How Do Water Filled Traffic Barriers Shake a Suspension Bridge?

TL;DR

This study investigates how water-filled traffic barriers influence wind-induced vibrations in suspension bridges, revealing flow separation, vortex formation, and the impact of attack angles on vortex shedding frequencies through numerical analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical analysis of water-filled barriers' effects on suspension bridge dynamics, highlighting flow separation and vortex behavior.

Findings

Water barriers cause flow separation and vortices.

Vortex shedding frequency is around 41.30 Hz.

Attack angles significantly alter flow and vortex frequencies.

Abstract

The present study stems from the realization that the general problem relating to the analysis of wind-induced vibrations in suspension bridges still requires significant attention. Sidewalk railings, overhaul tracks, and deflectors are known to largely affect such dynamics. Here, the influence of a row of water-filled traffic barriers on the response of a sample suspension bridge is investigated numerically. It is shown that the existence of water barriers causes flow separation and non-negligible vortices with respect to the condition with no water barriers. The vortex shedding frequency at the far end is around 41.30 Hz, relatively close to the real vibration frequency. It is also shown how different incoming angles of attack can change the flow field around the bridge cross-section and the vortex detachment frequency.