Flutter performance simulation on streamlined bridge deck with active aerodynamic flaps

Abstract

Active aerodynamic flaps can effectively improve the aerodynamic stability of bridges; however, the determination of optimal control parameters often requires a large number of experiments. This study proposes a method for determining the optimal control parameters of active flaps based on the surrogate model and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation technology. The computational fluid dynamics method is used to calculate the flutter derivatives of the deck–flap system under a small number of control parameters, and then the surrogate model is used to extend the flutter derivatives to the design domain of entire control parameters. Furthermore, the changing trend of flutter performance under flap control parameters can be obtained. This method can avoid complex and expensive active control wind tunnel tests and obtain more accurate optimal control parameters at less cost, which is helpful for the convenient application of active control technology in actual engineering.