Time domain buffeting analysis of suspension bridges subjected to turbulent wind with effective attack angle

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 with effective attack angle is presented. In this model, all sources of geometric non-linearity such as cable sag, forc e-bending moment interaction in the bridge deck and towers as well as chang es in bridge geometry due to large displacements are fully considered. The wind loads which include buffeting loads and self-excited loads are convert ed into the time domain by using a computer simulation technique to form ae rodynamic damping and stiffness matrices as well as element loading vectors . Furthermore, a more refined model of wind loads is constructed in order t o investigate the effect of an instantaneous change in effective attack ang le of turbulent wind on bridge buffeting response. By comparing the results with those obtained by classic buffeting theory through an example bridge, the validity of the presented method is verified. (C) 2000 Academic Press.