Techno Press
Techno Press

Wind and Structures
  Volume 31, Number 5, November 2020 , pages 459-472
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/was.2020.31.5.459
 


Numerical analysis of a long-span bridge response to tornado-like winds
Jianming Hao and Teng Wu

 
Abstract
    This study focused on the non-synoptic, tornado-like wind-induced effects on flexible horizontal structures that are extremely sensitive to winds. More specifically, the nonuniform, intensive vertical wind-velocity and transient natures of tornado events and their effects on the global behavior of a long-span bridge were investigated. In addition to the static part in the modeling of tornado-like wind-induced loads, the motion-induced effects were modeled using the semi-empirical model with a two-dimensional (2-D) indicial response function. Both nonlinear wind-induced static analysis and linear aeroelastic analysis in the time domain were conducted based on a 3-D finite-element model to investigate the bridge performance under the most unfavorable tornado pattern considering wind-structure interactions. The results from the present study highlighted the important effects due to abovementioned tornado natures (i.e., nonuniform, intensive vertical wind-velocity and transient features) on the long-span bridge, and hence may facilitate more appropriate wind design of flexible horizontal structures in the tornado-prone areas.
 
Key Words
    tornado-like winds; long-span bridge; wind-induced static loads; motion-induced loads; two-dimensional indicial response function; aeroelastic analysis
 
Address
Jianming Hao:School of Highway, Chang'an University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710064, China/ Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, U.S.A.

Teng Wu:Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, U.S.A.
 

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