The role of aerodynamic forces in a mathematical model for suspension bridges

2014/09/05 by Elvise Berchio, Filippo Gazzola, Berchio, E. +1
Engineering · #34C15 #35B35 #37C20 #Analysis of PDEs (math.AP) #Classical Analysis and ODEs (math.CA) #FOS: Mathematics #Fluid Dynamics and Turbulent Flows #Fluid Dynamics and Vibration Analysis #Vibration and Dynamic Analysis

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1409.1769

openalex publication_date 2014/09/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

In a fish-bone model for suspension bridges studied by us in a previous paper we introduce linear aerodynamic forces. We numerically analyze the role of these forces and we theoretically show that they do not influence the onset of torsional oscillations. This suggests a new explanation for the origin of instability in suspension bridges: it is a combined interaction between structural nonlinearity and aerodynamics and it follows a precise pattern. This gives an answer to a long-standing question about the origin of torsional instability in suspension bridges.

Citations

• On the part of the motion of the lunar perigee which is a function of the mean motions of the sun and moon
• Resonance, Tacoma Narrows bridge failure, and undergraduate physics textbooks

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