The trend in recent years to build longer and slender bridges has created new challenges in terms of safety and structural integrity. This study focuses on the effects of windinduced vibrations on the hangers of the Bomarsund Bridge in Åland, Finland. Those close to the mid-span have exhibited significant vibrations, requiring a thorough investigation to understand the response of the bridge to wind action. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed using ANSYS Fluent to calculate the aerodynamic coefficients characterizing the given section (i.e. Strouhal number, drag, shedding frequencies, etc.) and to investigate the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) phenomena at different wind speeds. The results showed inconsistent drag coefficients at varying wind speeds and lower drag for geometries with rounded edges. The study highlighted the significant dependence of the Strouhal number on wind speed, challenging traditional geometry-based estimations. These findings can be used to implement effective measures to mitigate wind-induced vibrations.
Part of ISBN [9781032770406] QC 20240830