Pseudo-three dimensional Method for the Numerical Simulation of Oscillations of Line-like Structures Induced by Real Wind

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Guido Morgenthal
• Subject Area: Structural Engineering, Building Informatics and Construction Operation ; Fluid Mechanics
• Term: from 2013 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 233410851

• Final Report Year: 2017

Final Report Abstract

A novel numerical method was developed for the fluid flow analysis of bluff bodies at high Reynolds Numbers. Specifically, the method allows pseudo-3D simulations of fluid–structure interaction phenomena of line-like structures under the influence of incoming turbulence. The method is based on the Vortex Particle Method (VPM) and enjoys a high computational efficiency which renders it applicable to the analysis of numerous problems in wind engineering. This may include the prediction of dynamic Vortex Induced Vibrations, Flutter and Buffeting effects of structures such as bridges, masts and high-rise buildings which may have complex cross sectional geometries. The properties of turbulent wind as occurring in the atmospheric boundary layer are accounted for in a statistical sense by creating artificial fluctuating inflow conditions for the VPM simulation through vortex particle seeding in such a way that the upstream velocity field satisfies properties such as turbulence intensities, spectra and spatial correlations. The fluid–structure coupling was modelled within each of several two-dimensional VPM slices through surface pressures integrated to sectional forces and applied to a global structural model. The dynamic displacements are then reflected back to each slice by sectional displacements of the immersed boundary of the VPM. The individual components of the method have been validated and the method was then applied to real structures. For example the buffeting response of Stonecutters Bridge in an erection condition was analysed and the results were compared with experimental results obtained from boundary layer wind tunnel tests.

Publications

• Parallels between wind and crowd loading of bridges, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, 371 (2013), pp. 20120430– 20120430
  McRobie, Allan; Morgenthal, Guido; Abrams, Danny & Prendergast, John
  
• A GPU-accelerated pseudo-3D vortex method for aerodynamic analysis, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Vol. 125 (2014), pp. 69–80
  Morgenthal, Guido; Sánchez Corriols, Abraham & Bendig, Benjamin
  
• Pseudo three-dimensional simulation of buffeting response under turbulent wind 3, 37th IABSE Symposium, Madrid, 2014
  Ibrahim, Khaled & Morgenthal, Guido
  
• Wake flow reproduction in Vortex Particle Methods for simulating buffeting response, 6th Intnl. Symp. on Comp. Wind Engineering, Hamburg, 2014
  Ibrahim, K., Morgenthal, G., Chawdhury, S.
  
• Vortex Particle Method for Aerodynamic Analysis: Parallel Scalability and Efficiency, IV International Conference on Particle-based Methods, 2015
  Ibrahim, K., Morgenthal, G.
  
• Comparative Study of Semi-analytical and Numerical Methods for Aerodynamic Analysis of Long-span Bridges, 8th International Colloquium on Bluff Body Aerodynamics and Applications, 2016
  Kavrakov, I., Ibrahim, K., Morgenthal, G.
  
• Flow reproduction using Vortex Particle Methods for simulating wake buffeting response of bluff structures, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Vol. 151 (2016), pp. 122–136
  Chawdhury, Samir & Morgenthal, Guido
  
• Cross-validation of a Turbulent Inflow Pseudo-3D Vortex Method for Applications in Aeroelastic Analyses utilizing Semi-analytical Models [Project Report], 2017
  Morgenthal, G.
  
• Pseudo Three-dimensional Simulation of Aeroelastic Response to Turbulent Wind using Vortex Particle Methods, Journal of Fluids and Structures, 72 (2017), pp. 1–24
  Ibrahim Tolba, Khaled & Morgenthal, Guido