Wind tunnel: a fundamental tool for long-span bridge design

An overview of wind tunnel activities and methodologies to support the design of long-span suspension bridges is proposed. The most important aspects of the wind-bridge interaction are investigated considering the aerodynamic phenomena affecting the different parts of the bridge (mainly deck and towers). The experimental activities and results are proposed in the framework of a synergic approach between numerical and experimental methodologies that represent the common practice in defining the full scale aeroelastic behaviour of the bridge starting from scaled reproduction of the wind-bridge interaction. Static and dynamic wind loads, aeroelastic stability, vortex-induced vibrations will be investigated.