Computer simulation of buffeting actions of suspension bridges under turbulent wind

Suspension bridges are long-span flexible structures susceptible to various types of wind induced vibrations such as buffeting actions. In this paper, a three dimensional finite-element model formulated to deal with suspensio n bridges under turbulent wind is presented. In this model, all sources of geometric nonlinearity such as cable sag, force-bending moment interaction in the bridge deck and towers, and changes of bridge geometry due to large displacements, are fully considered. The wind loads, composed of steady-sta te wind loads, buffeting loads and self-excited loads, are converted into t ime domain by using the computer simulation technique. The Newmark-beta ste p by step numerical integration algorithm is used to calculate the buffetin g responses of bridges. Compared with the results obtained by classical buf feting theory, the validity of the simulation is proved. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.