Izmit Bay Suspension Bridge-Aerodynamic Stability of Catwalk

The catwalk system for the Izmit Bay Suspension Bridge designed without storm system has been assessed for its aero-elastic stability carefully. The behavior of the catwalk under the design wind speed has been evaluated by means of a nonlinear numerical analysis using a space frame numerical model with the aerodynamic properties obtained in a wind tunnel tests using a section model of the catwalk of a scale of 1/4. The wind tunnel tests using a full aero-elastic model of the catwalk system for a shorter main span suspension bridge but with the same catwalk section as for the Izmit Bay Suspension Bridge have been conducted. The tests aimed to investigate the wind-induced response under the yaw wind and to prove the nonlinear numerical analysis employed for investigation of the behavior of the catwalk system of the Izmit Bay Suspension Bridge. It has been confirmed that the static and dynamic responses of the catwalk of the Izmit Bay Suspension Bridge are well within the permissible capacity under the design wind speed.