A study on static aerodynamic forces of box girders using computational fluid dynamics

This study has focused on aerodynamics for the wind-resistance design about the single and tandem box girder sections to realize a super-long span bridge in the near future. Three-dimensional static analyses of flows around the fundamental single and tandem box girder sections with fairings are carried out by means of the IBTD/FS finite element technique with LES turbulence model. As the results of the analyses, computations have verified aerodynamic characteristics of both sections by the histories of aerodynamic forces, the separation and reattachment flow patterns and the surface pressure distributions. The relationship between the shapes and the aerodynamics is also investigated in both sections. And the mechanism about the generation of fluctuating aerodynamic forces is discussed.