On the importance of cross-sectional details in the wind tunnel testing of bridge deck section models

Experimentally derived aerodynamic derivatives are used to predict and prevent undesirable aeroelastic behavior of bridges and are currently considered indispensable in the design of long-span bridges. The aerodynamic derivatives are functions of the reduced frequency of motion and depend strongly on the shape of the cross-section. Therefore, the experimental results are sensitive to the degree of detail of the section model of the bridge deck, the precise modelling of the bridge railings and the testing method applied. This paper investigates how differences in the aerodynamic derivatives caused by the listed factors influence the buffeting response and critical flutter speed of a long-span suspension bridge.