Decision Framework for Traffic Control on Sea-Crossing Bridges during Strong Winds

Abstract

A new framework to establish a traffic control strategy is proposed for sea-crossing bridges. This new framework is particularly focused on the threat posed by strong winds, and two geometric characteristics of bridges – deck shape and road alignment – were considered. First, the entire bridge was subdivided based on the deck shape and the road alignment. Wind-tunnel testing was used to evaluate the deck shape and road alignment for each of the subdivided sections and determine the effect on vehicle aerodynamics. The minimum critical wind speeds were then estimated for each traffic lane on each segmented road section along the bridge based on vehicle analysis by simulating the length, curvature, cant, and elevation of each section. Finally, a traffic-control strategy was established based on the critical wind-speed curves developed for all wind directions. As a numerical example, the developed framework was applied to a double-deck suspension bridge. The proposed framework resulted in a traffic control strategy that accounts for the deck shape and road alignment along the bridge. A series of comparative studies were performed to clarify the influences that deck shape and road alignment exert on vehicle stability.