Motion of Suspension Bridge Subject to Wind Loads

Vertical and torsional motions of a suspension bridge due to wind loading are studied. Both, self-excited, due to bridge motion, and buffeting, independent of bridge motion, wind loads are included. The self-excited aerodynamic forces are modeled using aerodynamic coefficient or Duhamel integral formulations. For this purpose, experimental information on section models from wind tunnel testing is utilized. The buffeting random loads are determined from specified spectral densities or horizontal and vertical turbulent wind velocity fluctuations. Numerical results are obtained using frequency and time domain formulations. Dynamic bridge stability is also investigated.