Aeroelastic Control of Long-Span Suspension Bridges

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• David Limebeer, University of Oxford
• Wednesday 23 February 2011, 14:00-15:00
• CAP Seminar Room .

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The stabilization of wind-induced instabilities in long-span suspension bridges is considered. In order to study this problem, several classical results in thin aerofoil theory, developed in the 1930s, are reviewed and adapted. By employing leading- and trailing-edge flaps in combination we show that the critical wind speeds for flutter and torsional divergence can be increased significantly. The relatively less well known aerodynamic properties of leading-edge flaps will be studied in detail prior to their utilization in aeroelastic stability and control system design studies. The optimal approximation of the classical Theodorsen circulation function will be studied briefly as part of the bridge section model building exercise. While a wide variety of control systems is possible, we focus on compensation schemes that can be implemented using passive mechanical components such as springs, dampers and levers. A single-loop control system is investigated that controls the leading- and trailing-edge flaps by sensing the main deck pitch angle. The critical wind speeds for flutter and torsional divergence of the sectional model of the bridge can be elevated, with good robustness characteristics, through passive feedback control. Static winglets are shown to be relatively ineffective.

This talk is part of the Control and Power Seminars series.

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