Stochastic Response of a Coastal Cable-Stayed Bridge Subjected to Correlated Wind and Waves

Abstract

The influences of waves and wind–wave correlations on the stochastic buffeting response of a coastal cable-stayed bridge were studied using the pseudo-excitation method. The mean correlation coefficient of the wind-induced wave energy and measured wave energy was obtained by combining theoretical analysis with measured data to consider the wind–wave correlations. A statistical model was proposed to establish the relationship among the wind velocity, wave height, and wind-induced wave energy contribution rate. A joint probability distribution model of wind and waves was used with the Frank copula function to ensure the wind velocity and wave height. Methods to analyze the stochastic response of a cable-stayed bridge subjected to wind and wave loads with a power spectrum of correlated wind and waves were introduced, and a numerical study was conducted. The results showed that wave loads played an important role in the internal forces of underwater structures. Wind–wave correlations had a significant influence, which varied with the water depth, on the stochastic buffeting response.