Conditional simulation of 3D nonstationary wind field for sea-crossing bridges

This paper presents a framework for the conditional simulation of a 3D nonstationary wind field for super-long sea-crossing bridges based on wind speed time histories measured by limited anemometers on site. The variations of wind characteristics along the bridge deck with multi-elements are considered in this framework. The wind characteristics, including mean wind speeds, mean wind directions, turbulence intensities, turbulence integral scales, evolutionary wind spectra and spectral parameters, coherence functions and function parameters, at the measurement points are first obtained by analyzing the measured wind speed time histories. The wind characteristics are then extended over all the simulation points along the deck of the sea-crossing bridge using the spatial interpolation method and considering the variation of deck height above the sea level using the profiles of mean wind speeds, turbulence intensities and turbulence integral scales estimated from the measured wind speed time histories. After working out wind cross correlation functions, wind speed time histories at all simulation points over the sea-crossing bridge can be conditionally simulated. The proposed framework is finally applied to a real 22.9 km sea-crossing bridge under Typhoon Higos. The conditionally simulated wind speed time histories at all simulation points of the bridge are acceptable and consist a complete wind field which can be used for the buffeting analysis of the bridge.