Modelling of vortex-induced force and prediction of vortex-induced vibration of a bridge deck using method of multiple scales

With the increase of span length, long-span bridges become more flexible and susceptible to vortex-induced vibrations (VIV). Several models for vortex-induced force (VIF) and various methods for predicting VIV have been developed accordingly but without consensus. This paper uses the method of multiple scales, from a different angle of view, to analyze the general polynomial model for VIF and present a concise polynomial model for VIF and a simple method for predicting VIV of a bridge deck. The aeroelastic vibration of a deck section is simulated by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the results are used to verify the concise polynomial model of VIF. The forced vibration of a deck section is also simulated by CFD to yield the simple method for predicting VIV together with the frequency response equation and the critical equation of VIV derived by the method of multiple scales. The results show that the even and cross terms of aerodynamic damping and stiffness in the general polynomial VIF model are small compared with the odd terms and can be thus omitted. The lock-in region and the amplitude of VIV of the deck section can be accurately predicted by the proposed simple method.