Mitigating the Effects of Wind on Suspension Bridge Catwalks

Abstract

In the current study, wind tunnel tests and buffeting analyses were conducted for a catwalk structure of a suspension bridge under turbulent winds. From the wind tunnel tests, it was found that the Reynolds number effects on the aerostatic coefficients were negligible for the catwalk floor systems. Simple design formulas were proposed to estimate the aerostatic coefficients of catwalks with various solidity ratios and angles of attack. The buffeting analysis results revealed that tying the catwalk to an erecting main cable may be an effective structural countermeasure to reduce the lateral displacements of the catwalk. Stay ropes fastening the catwalk and bridge tower were also found to be effective at alleviating the lateral displacements.