Aerodynamic Behaviour of Very Long Cable-Stayed Bridges during Construction

AbstractStonecutters and Sutong Bridge have pushed the world record for main span length of cable-stayed bridges to over 1000m. The design of these bridges, both located in typhoon prone regions, is strongly influenced by wind effects during their erection. Rigorous wind tunnel test programmes have been devised and executed to determine the aerodynamic behaviour of the structures in the most critical erection conditions. Testing was augmented by analytical and numerical analyses to verify the safety of the structures throughout construction and to ensure that no serviceability problems would affect the erection process. This paper outlines the wind properties assumed for the bridge sites, the experimental test programme with some of its results, the dynamic properties of the bridges during free cantilevering erection and the assessment of their aerodynamic performance. Along the way, it discusses the similarities and some revealing differences between the two bridges in terms of their dynamic response to wind action