Study on the buffeting response of a long-span truss arch bridge during construction based on a large-scale full bridge model wind tunnel test

AbstractThe buffeting response of long-span truss arch bridges has become a key factor in the cantilever construction phase. It is essential to study the wind-resistant performance of arch bridges in typical construction stages. In this study, the buffeting displacements and buffeting forces were investigated based on a 1:40 scaled full bridge model wind tunnel test. Three wind attack angles and seven wind yaw angles were considered in the test. The test results show that the maximum lateral buffeting displacements of the cantilever end and the buckle tower top occur at a wind yaw angle between −15 and 15°. Finite-element analysis was performed to investigate the vibration mitigation measures of the arch bridge during the maximum cantilever construction stage. Finally, we propose some recommendations to alleviate the buffeting response of the buckle tower. The results of our study reveal that setting two symmetric wind resistance cables with an angle >20° between the cable direction and the vertical direction is useful in reducing the transverse buffeting displacement of the buckle tower. This study provides new insights into the buffeting response and vibration reduction of long-span truss arch bridges during cantilever construction.Keywords: Buffeting responsecantilever construction phasefluctuating wind fieldfull bridge modelsteel truss arch bridgevibration mitigationwind tunnel test Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51878580 and 51978108). This work was also supported by the Scientific Research Starting Project of SWPU (No. 2019QHZ021) and Scientific Innovation Group for Youths of Bridge Safety Evaluation of SWPU (No. 2018CXTD07).