Abstract Short bio
The pioneering paper by Scanlan first proposed the successful modeling of flutter and buffeting for long-span bridges, providing the bases of the aerodynamic design of several long-span bridges around the world. However, current structural design trends necessitate the re-consideration of some aspects of this theory, especially for super long bridges. Furthermore, as the number of built bridges increases, long-term bridge maintenance and lifecycle operations must be considered. This presentation examines the field of bridge aeroelasticity and its relation to the experience of the author.
The presentation introduces a probability-informed algorithm for “load uncertainty propagation”. Uncertainty describes either a simplification in the classical approach based on empirical aeroelastic functions or the quantification of wind tunnel experimental errors. Stemming from theoretical derivations, the stationary joint-probability distribution of the generalized bridge deck response is found, accounting for various perturbations and, particularly, a random variable that quantifies errors in the span-wise wind load correlation. Both flutter and buffeting responses are considered, detailing also some innovative active stabilizers based on the gyroscopic effect.
Finally, the classical theory of bridge aeroelasticity is re-examined in the context of nonstationary wind loads, for example emerging from extreme thunderstorm outflows and gust fronts. These events are becoming more frequent and, therefore, more relevant to bridge engineering. Specifically, the usual modeling approach can still provide the fundamentals to solve these load scenarios. A 1200 m bridge example, modeled after the Golden Gate Bridge (USA), and a 3000 m bridge example, modeled after the Messina Strain Bridge (Italy), are used as benchmark structural examples.
Short bio:
Luca Caracoglia is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Luca Caracoglia’s research and professional interests are in structural dynamics, random vibrations, fluid-structure interaction of civil engineering structures, nonlinear cable network dynamics, wind engineering, wind energy and wind-based energy harvesting systems.
He has been author or co-author of 100+ peer-reviewed journal publications and received the NSF-CAREER Award for young investigators in 2009. He was granted the title of “Fellow ASCE” in 2020 for his career accomplishments and he is currently a member of the Executive Board of the Italian National Association for Wind Engineering. He served as a member of the International Executive Board of the International Association for Wind Engineering in 2012 – 2017, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for Wind Engineering in 2020-2022. He currently serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Fluids and Structures (Elsevier) and the ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering.