| Structural Engineering and Mechanics Volume 70, Number 3, May10 2019, pages 311-324 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/sem.2019.70.3.311 | |
Coupling effects between wind and train transit induced fatigue damage
in suspension bridges | |
Francesco Petrini, Pierluigi Olmati and Franco Bontempi
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| Abstract [Buy Article] | |
| Long-span steel suspension bridges develop significant vibrations under the effect of external time-variable loadings because their slenderness. This causes significant stresses variations that could induce fatigue problems in critical components of the bridge. The research outcome presented in this paper includes a fatigue analysis of a long suspension bridge with 3300 meters central suspended span under wind action and train transit. Special focus is made on the counterintuitive interaction effects between train and wind loads in terms of fatigue damage accumulation in the hanger ropes. In fact the coupling of the two actions is shown to have positive effects for some hangers in terms of damage accumulation. Fatigue damage is evaluated using a linear accumulation model (Palmgren-Miner rule), analyses are carried out in time domain by a three-dimensional non-linear finite element model of the bridge. Rational explanation regarding the above-mentioned counterintuitive behavior is given on the basis of the stress time histories obtained for pertinent hangers under the effects of wind and train as acting separately or simultaneously. The interaction between wind and train traffic loads can be critical for a some hanger ropes therefore interaction phenomena within loads should be considered in the design. | |
| Key Words | |
| suspension bridges; fatigue analysis; wind-train interaction; damage accumulation; non-linearity | |
| Address | |
| 1Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, Rome, Italy 2Taisei Corporation, Shinjuku Center Building, Nishi Shinjuku 1-25-1, Tokyo, Japan | |
