Numerical and Experimental Determination of Aerodynamic Forces at a Long Span Bridge Girder

This paper presents a study of the aeroelastic characteristics of a common bridge deck section using experimental and numerical approaches. For this study sectional model tests have been carried out by means of forced vibration experiments, using force balance measurements in the wind tunnel. In addition, surface pressures around the bridge deck section at the middle of the model are measured. Obtained results have been used to improve a numerical model. By integration of the pressure measurements, aeroelastic forces are obtained independently from the force balance measurements. Results of the flutter derivatives obtained with all three approaches, using pressure measurements, force balance measurements and numerical simulations are compared. Taking the advantage of the approaches based on the pressure measurements and numerics, aeroelastic masses are evaluated.