TY - JOUR

T1 - On the stability of stay cables under light wind and rain conditions

AU - Burton, David A

AU - Cao, Dengqing

AU - Wang, Charles

AU - Tucker, Robin

PY - 2005/1/6

Y1 - 2005/1/6

N2 - This article studies the aerodynamic induced vibration of stay cables (in cable-stayed bridges) under the combined effect of light wind and rain in terms of a section model with a dynamic rivulet oscillating on a moving cable perimeter in a steady wind. The motion of the cable section is coupled with the motion of the rivulet via aerodynamic fluid–structure interactions. These complex interactions are modelled in two distinct ways and the resulting cable motions compared. The first employs an approximation that permits the use of data extrapolated from wind-tunnel measurements. The second approaches the aerodynamic interaction in terms of a sub-critical vortex description. In the first approach the stability of the linearized system is reduced to a six-dimensional eigenvalue problem and the dependence of the eigenvalues are explored numerically as a function of parameters that enter into the model. The predictions of the model rely on measured data for drag, lift and torque coefficients for fixed experimental cylinders with attached artificial rivulets, and data for the equilibrium location of rain-induced rivulets. In the second approach the dynamical evolution of the non-linear system of differential equations is explored and the results compared with those obtained in the first model. The results offer a useful means to understand how rain-wind induced vibrations of stay cables can arise and persist in terms of more realistic models than have been considered before in the literature.

AB - This article studies the aerodynamic induced vibration of stay cables (in cable-stayed bridges) under the combined effect of light wind and rain in terms of a section model with a dynamic rivulet oscillating on a moving cable perimeter in a steady wind. The motion of the cable section is coupled with the motion of the rivulet via aerodynamic fluid–structure interactions. These complex interactions are modelled in two distinct ways and the resulting cable motions compared. The first employs an approximation that permits the use of data extrapolated from wind-tunnel measurements. The second approaches the aerodynamic interaction in terms of a sub-critical vortex description. In the first approach the stability of the linearized system is reduced to a six-dimensional eigenvalue problem and the dependence of the eigenvalues are explored numerically as a function of parameters that enter into the model. The predictions of the model rely on measured data for drag, lift and torque coefficients for fixed experimental cylinders with attached artificial rivulets, and data for the equilibrium location of rain-induced rivulets. In the second approach the dynamical evolution of the non-linear system of differential equations is explored and the results compared with those obtained in the first model. The results offer a useful means to understand how rain-wind induced vibrations of stay cables can arise and persist in terms of more realistic models than have been considered before in the literature.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jsv.2003.10.038

DO - 10.1016/j.jsv.2003.10.038

M3 - Journal article

VL - 279

SP - 89

EP - 117

JO - Journal of Sound and Vibration

JF - Journal of Sound and Vibration

SN - 0022-460X

IS - 1-2

ER -