Improving Long-Span Bridge Flutter Reliability Through Gyroscopic Stabilizer, Considering Random Aeroelastic Loads

Long span suspension bridges are challenging structures, generally sensitive to wind effects and to wind-induced instabilities. Torsional rotation of the bridge deck plays an important role for the dynamic stability of the structure. This study uses a gyroscopic device as a stabilizer of the long span bridge. The proposed apparatus has been modeled as a lumped 3DOF system installed inside a specific section of the bridge deck. To assess effectiveness in increasing the critical flutter wind speed and performance, a numerical study is conducted on a benchmark long-span cable-supported bridge as a function of apparatus’ gyricity. Deck aeroelastic loads are randomly perturbed to simulate modeling simplifications and measurement errors. Monte Carlo simulations are used to predict flutter probability and efficiency of the stabilizer, within a practical operational range, in the presence of random aeroelastic loads.