Third M.I.T. Conference on Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics June 14–17, 2005  

Finite-element time-domain simulations of bridge aeroelasticity: implementation and profiling

C. Borria, L. Salvatorib,*, W. Zahltenc
aUniversità degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Firenze, I-50139, Italy
bUniversities of Florence and Braunschweig, International Doctoral Course on Risk Management, c/o Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Firenze, I-50139, Italy cBergische Universität Wuppertal, Institut für Baumechanik und Numerische Methoden, Wuppertal, D-42285, Germany

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ABSTRACT
The aeroelastic self-excited load model via indicial functions has reached sufficient theoretical maturity in the academic realm. In order to be used in the real practice of bridge design, a reliable procedure must be provided to obtain indicial functions and an efficient implementation of the convolution integrals into structural analysis programs is required. The latter problem is addressed in the present paper, where an optimized model with fading aeroelasticmemory is developed and implemented, and a first criterion to evaluate the optimal size of the memory is proposed. A substantial reduction of the computing time is obtained without compromising the accuracy of the analyses.

Keywords:  Bridge aerodynamics; Aeroelasticity; Indicial functions; Structural dynamics; Finite elements; Computing efficiency

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 055 4796 306; Fax: +39 055 4796 203; E-mail: luca.salvatori@dicea.unifi.it