Wind tunnel tests on the ?Arcos de Alconétar? arch bridge aeroelastic model

Abstract

Wind tunnel tests are widely used at the design stage of civil constructions, as it happens with long span bridges. In this paper the results of the experimental work carried out at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid to analyze the vertical arch-deck oscillations observed during the erection of ?Arcos de Alconétar? Bridge, produced by a low intensity wind, are presented. Once the phenomenon causing the oscillations (vortex induced vibrations) was identified, the hypothesis about the cause of oscillations was verified by means of wind tunnel tests of sectional arch models with properly scaled mass and geometrical properties. Furthermore, the efficiency of some aerodynamic devices attached to the arch structure to improve the aeroelastic behaviour of the bridge was investigated.