Fundamental restrictions for the closed-loop control of wind-loaded, slender bridges

Techniques for stabilising slender bridges under wind loads are presented in this article. A mathematically consistent description of the acting aerodynamic forces is essential when investigating these ideas. Against this background, motion-induced aerodynamic forces are characterised using a linear time-invariant transfer element in terms of rational functions. With the help of these functions, the aeroelastic system can be described in the form of a linear, time-invariant state-space model. It is shown that the divergence wind speed constitutes an upper bound for the application of the selected mechanical actuators. Even active control with full state feedback cannot overcome this limitation. The results are derived and explained with methods of control theory.