Author(s)

F. Nieto, S. Hernández & J. Á. Jurado

Abstract

This paper explains the formulation that allows the calculation of a bridge flutter speed and the evaluation of the sensitivity of the aeroelastic response with regards to the mechanical parameters of the deck. This methodology requires the previous evaluation of the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the bridge in second order theory, and the sensitivity analysis of those frequencies and mode shapes. Then, the advantages of introducing distributed computing in order to save time and share the computational effort between a set of connected computers are presented. Finally, the results obtained using the previously introduced methodology and distributed computing are shown for the Messina strait bridge. Keywords: distributed computing, aeroelasticity, flutter, sensitivity analysis, Messina Bridge. 1 Introduction In addition to the inherent difficulties arising in the design and construction of cable supported bridges, the length of the span covered by this class of structures has impressively increased in the last decades up to the 1991 m of the Akashi strait bridge in Japan. The ambitious project of suspension bridge for the Messina strait bridge is already in its definitive step and other challenging proposals as the Tsugaru Strait Bridge in Japan [1] or the Rial Altas crossing [2] in Spain are under study. For these long span bridges environmental solicitations as wind effects are often more significant than service loads. Therefore a lot of expertise is necessary in the design of such impressive structures.

Keywords

distributed computing, aeroelasticity, flutter, sensitivity analysis, Messina Bridge.