Forced motion and free motion aeroelastic tests on a new concept dynamometric section model of the Messina suspension bridge

The work presents a new original experimental rig to more deeply investigate the aerodynamic behaviour of long span suspension bridges. Set-up and model are designed to grant an accurate study on main aeroelastic phenomena in bridge engineering. More in details, experimental set-up and a 1:60 scale sectional model of Messina bridge deck are presented. The complete rig—composed by dynamometric model, suspension set, experimental set-up and active turbulence generator—is designed in order to execute both forced and free motion tests, allowing to change the average position in terms of angle of attack and yaw angle and to investigate flutter derivatives, admittance functions and vortex-induced vibrations.