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Assessing the Capability of Computational Fluid Dynamics Models in Replicating Wind Tunnel Test Results for the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge
Date Issued
2021-12-19
Date Available
2022-09-29T11:52:16Z
Abstract
Despite its wide acceptance in various industries, CFD is considered a secondary option to wind tunnel tests in bridge engineering due to a lack of confidence. To increase confidence and to advance the quality of simulations in bridge aerodynamic studies, this study performed three-dimensional RANS simulations and DESs to assess the bridge deck aerodynamics of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge and demonstrated detailed procedures of the verification and validation of the applied CFD model. The CFD simulations were developed in OpenFOAM, the results of which are compared to prior wind tunnel test results, where general agreements were achieved though differences were also found and analyzed. The CFD model was also applied to study the effect of fascia beams and handrails on the bridge deck aerodynamics, which were neglected in most research to-date. These secondary structures were found to increase drag coefficients and reduce lift and moment coefficients by up to 32%, 94.3%, and 52.2%, respectively, which emphasized the necessity of including these structures in evaluations of the aerodynamic performance of bridges in service. Details of the verification and validation in this study illustrate that CFD simulations can determine close results compared to wind tunnel tests.
Sponsorship
University College Dublin
Other Sponsorship
Chinese Scholarship Council
Type of Material
Journal Article
Publisher
MDPI
Journal
CivilEng
Volume
2
Issue
4
Start Page
1065
End Page
1090
Copyright (Published Version)
2021 the Authors
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
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Name
2021_Assessing Capability of CFD to replicate WTT for RFK Bridge.pdf
Size
6.89 MB
Format
Owning collection
Scopus© citations
5
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