Experimental and Numerical Study on the Dynamic Stability of Vortex-Induced Vibration of Bridge Decks

The dynamic stability of vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of circular cylinders has been well investigated. However, there have been few studies on this topic for bridge decks. To fill this gap, this study focuses on the dynamic stability of a VIV system for bridge decks. Some recently developed techniques for nonlinear dynamics are adopted, for example, the state space reconstruction and Poincare mapping techniques. The dynamic stability of the VIV system is assessed by combining analytical and experimental approaches, and a typical bridge deck is analyzed as a case study. Results indicate that the experimentally observed hysteresis phenomenon corresponds to the occurrence of saddle-node bifurcation of the VIV system. Through the method proposed in this study, the evolution of dynamic stability of the VIV system versus wind velocity is established. The dynamic characteristics of the system are further clarified, which offers a useful clue to understanding the VIV system for bridge decks, while providing valuable information for mathematical modeling.