Parametric study on buffeting performance of a long-span triple-tower suspension bridge

The triple-tower suspension bridge is a brand new type of structural form that is equipped with a dominant mid-tower. The dynamic characteristics of this multiple main-span suspension bridge present a significant difference with that of the conventional single main-span suspension bridge. Hence, taking the Taizhou Yangtze River Bridge as an example, the buffeting performance of a long-span triple-tower suspension bridge under strong winds is comprehensively investigated via finite element method. Specifically, the sensitivity of structural buffeting performance to some major structural parameters, aerodynamic parameters as well as parameters of turbulence inputs is analysed in time domain. It was found that the structural buffeting performance heavily depends on the dead load of the main girder, sag-to-span ratio of the main cable, longitudinal stiffness and structural type of the mid-tower. Also, appropriate selection of aerodynamic admittance function, power spectrum model of fluctuating wind and the spatial coherence coefficient is important in the buffeting analysis. Besides, the self-excited forces have small impact on the calculation of buffeting responses of such a bridge. The analytical results can provide references for the buffeting analyses and wind-resistant design of similar long-span triple-tower suspension bridges.