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Wind Actions On Cable-supported Bridges

Due to the large flexibility of cable-supported bridges, the motion-induced wind loads on the structure are of great importance and the design of cable-supported bridges requires advanced dynamic analyses. Typically, the aerodynamic bridge deck data used in these analyses are based on wind tunnel test results.

The physical phenomena caused by motion-induced wind loads, which may occur on badly designed cable-supported bridges, cover buffeting flutter, galloping and vortex shedding. Such phenomena may be crucial for the bridge and it is important to consider these effects during the design phase.

Svend Ole Hansen ApS has a specialized knowledge concerning the interpretation of wind tunnel test results and their application in combination with theoretical time domain analyses and spectral analyses in the design of cable-supported long span bridges.

Svend Ole Hansen ApS has been involved in numerous bridge projects all over the world, among others the Great Belt bridge (Denmark), Carquinez bridge (San Francisco) Hardanger Bridge (Norway) and the Forth Replacement Crossing in Scotland.

Among the services that Svend Ole Hansen ApS provides regarding bridges are:

  • Estimation of extreme winds at the bridge site
  • Wind tunnel tests
  • Theoretical calculations
  • Structural vibrations
  • Wind-induced traffic accidents on the bridges

Svend Ole Hansen ApS carries out wind tunnel tests with section models investigating buffeting-induced vibrations, vibrations induced by flutter, vortex shedding and galloping, and static load coefficients. Also, subsequent analysis determining aerodynamic derivatives and aerodynamic admittance functions, used in the theoretical wind action predictions, are carried out.