Ge Yaojun

State-of-the-art of long-span bridge engineering in China

This paper introduces the state-of-the-art of longspan bridge engineering in China with emphases on recent long-span bridge projects, bridge deck configuration and material, design codes of long-span bridges and improvement of aerodynamic performance. The recent long-span bridge projects include thirty-eight completed suspension bridges, cable-stayed and arch bridges with a main span over 400 m, and eighteen major bridges are under construction. The bridge deck configuration and material, with prestressed concrete decks, steel-concrete composite decks and steel box decks together with several popular cross-sections, are presented. The third part briefly outlines four design codes, including static and dynamic design for highway long-span bridges, and the recent engineering experiences gained from several aerodynamic vibration control projects of long-span bridges are shared in the last part.

Flutter control effect and mechanism of central-slotting for long-span bridges

The flutter control effect and mechanism of central-slotting, which have gradually been adopted in the design and construction of long-span bridges as an effective flutter controlling measure, were investigated with theoretical analysis and wind tunnel test. Five basic girder cross-sections representing five typical aerodynamic configurations were selected and central-slotted with two different slot widths. Then, a series of sectional model tests and theoretical analyses based on the two-dimensional three-degrees-of-freedom coupling flutter analysis method (2 dimension-3 degrees of freedom method, 2d-3DOF method) were carried out to investigate the aerody namic performance, flutter mechanism and flutter modality of the five basic sections and their corresponding central-slotted sections. The results show that central-slotting can not always improve the aerodynamic stability of bridge structure. The control effect of central-slotting depends on the aerodynamic configuration of the original girder section and the corresponding central-slotting width. If the original section is inappropriate or the slot width is unsuitable, central-slotting will even deteriorate the structural flutter performance. Theoretical investigations indicated that the differences in flutter control effects come from the different formation and evolution of aerodynamic damping, and flutter modality especially the participation level of heaving motion also has a significant influence on the control effect of central-slotting.

Aerodynamic challenges in span length of suspension bridges

The potential requirement of extreme bridge spans is firstly discussed according to horizontal clearances for navigation and economical construction of deep-water foundation. To ensure the technological feasibility of suspension bridges with longer spans, the static estimation of feasible span length is then made based on current material strength and weight of cables and deck. After the performances of the countermeasures for raising the aerodynamic stability are reviewed, a trial design of a 5 000 m suspension bridge, which is estimated as a reasonable limitation of span length, is finally conducted to respond to the tomorrow’s challenge in span length of suspension bridges with the particular aspects, including dynamic stiffness, aerodynamic flutter and aerostatic stability.

An analytical method for calculating torsional constants for arbitrary complicated thin-walled cross-sections

In this paper, an analytical method is proposed for calculating torsional constants for complicated thin-walled cross-sections with arbitrary closed or open rib stiffeners. This method uses the free torsional theory and the principle of virtual work to build governing equilibrium equations involving unknown shear flows and twisting rate. After changing the form of the equations and combining these two unknowns into one, torsional function, which is a function of shear flow, shear modulus, and twisting rate, is included in the governing equations as only one of the unknowns. All the torsional functions can be easily obtained from these homogeneous linear equations, and torsional constants can be easily obtained from the torsional functions. The advantage of this method is that we can easily and directly obtain torsional constants from the torsional functions, rather than the more sophisticated shear flow and twisting rate calculations. Finally, a complicated thin-walled cross-section is given as a valid numerical example to verify the analytical method, which is much more accurate and simpler than the traditional finite element method.