An experimental approach on aerodynamic stability of a cable-stayed cantilever bridge

The View Bridge constructed in Yawatahama City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, has a novel form of a 2-span continuous cantilever steel bridge with a free end. In order to investigate the aerodynamic stabilities of this bridge, wind tunnel tests using 2- and 3-dimensional models are conducted and the dynamic properties of the real bridge and the wind characteristics are measured on the site. A gust response is observed in these tests while flutter, galloping and vortex-induced vibration do not occur. Analytical approaches to identify the gust response on the site are performed through two methods, that is, the ordinary gust-response analysis and the correction of the response in the wind tunnel. The latter method is carried out to correct the difference between the conditions of the wind tunnel and the site related to wind turbulence and structural properties. Though the gust-response analyses fail to reproduce the response on the site because of the uncertainty of the aerodynamic admittance, the corrected response of the 3D wind tunnel test is in good agreement with the response observed on the site.