Experimental and numerical study on generation and mitigation of vortex-induced vibration of open-cross-section composite beam

Open-cross-section composite beam (OCB) tends to suffer vortex-induced vibration (VIV) due to its bluff aerodynamic shape. A cable-stayed bridge equipped with typical OCB is taken as an example in this paper to conduct sectional model wind tunnel test. Vortex-induced vibration is observed and maximum vibration amplitudes are obtained. CFD approach is employed to calculate the flow field around original cross sections in service stage and construction stage, as well as sections added with three different countermeasures: splitters, slabs and wind fairings. Results show that flow separate on the upstream edge and cause vortex shedding on original section. Splitters can only smooth the flow field on the upper surface, while slabs cannot smooth flow field on the upper or lower surface too much. Thus, splitters or slabs cannot serve as valid aerodynamic means. Wind tunnel test results show that VIV can only be mitigated when wind fairings are mounted, by which the flow field above and below the bridge deck are accelerated simultaneously.