Wind Tunnel Test Study on Pipeline Suspension Bridge via Aeroelastic Model with π Connection

Abstract

Pipeline suspension bridges are narrow and wind sensitive. There is a lack of research on the mechanical performance of pipeline suspension bridges under wind load, especially under the action of gorge wind. This paper studies the aerodynamic stability of the typical pipeline suspension bridge under the action of wind load by conducting a wind tunnel test of a full-bridge aeroelastic model. Setting a π connection to replace and simulate the core beam stiffness avoids the impact of the core beam on the flow pattern of wind, making the wind-induced dynamic response results obtained from the test more like the practical situation. The results of the measurements of the model dynamical characteristics indicate that the structural dynamic characteristics of the full-bridge aeroelastic model is similar to that of the prototype. The test results show that under various operating conditions, the typical pipeline suspension bridge in the paper has sufficient aerodynamic stability in both a boundary-layer wind field and a turbulent flow field. Under various testing conditions and wind speeds, no flutter, galloping, or other aerodynamic instabilities occur, and no lateral deformation, divergent torsion, or other static instabilities occur. There are no clear vortex-induced vibrations in the lateral, vertical, and torsional directions of the model main beam.