Aerostatic pressure of streamlined box girder based on conformal mapping method and its application

The conformal mapping method (CMM) has been broadly exploited in the study of fluid flows over airfoils and other research areas, yet it's hard to find relevant research in bridge engineering. This paper explores the feasibility of CMM in streamlined box girder bridges. Firstly, the mapping function transforming a unit circle to the streamlined box girder was solved by CMM. Subsequently, the potential flow solution of aerostatic pressure on the streamlined box girder was obtained and was compared with numerical simulation results. Finally, the aerostatic pressure attained by CMM was utilized to estimate the aerostatic coefficient and flutter performance of the streamlined box girder. The results indicate that the solution of the aerostatic pressure by CMM on the windward side is satisfactory within a small angle of attack. Considering the windward aerostatic pressure and coefficient of correction, CMM can be employed to estimate the rate of change of the lift and moment coefficients with angle of attack and the influence of the geometric shape of the streamlined box girder on flutter performance.