Safety analysis of road vehicles overtake on cables-Stayed bridge under crosswinds

Abstract

It is inevitably to encounter overtaking events as vehicles pass through long-span bridges under crosswinds. The effects of the aerodynamic interference on the dynamic responses of the overtaking vehicles should be taken into account in the analysis of the driving safety of vehicles under crosswinds. The time-varying aerodynamic coefficients of the overtaking vehicles are obtained by scale model wind tunnel tests. A vehicle dynamic model is established for the analysis of the dynamic responses of articulated lorry. Based on the coupling vibration framework of the wind-vehicle-bridge system, an improved dynamic analysis system is constructed to solve the transient aerodynamic responses of the overtaking vehicle. It investigates the effects of the overtaking events on the driving safety of vehicles on bridge deck under crosswinds. The results show that the interference aerodynamic forces produced during the overtaking process have significant influences on the dynamic responses of vehicles. The maximum load transfer ratio and side-slip factor of vehicles in consideration of the effects of overtaking event are much greater than the case taking no account of the interference aerodynamic forces. Although the overtaking event do not play a decisive role in the driving safety of vehicles crossing the bridge, it is necessary to consider the combined adverse effects of the overtaking event and crosswinds on the safety of vehicles.