Investigation on vortex-induced vibration control of streamlined box girder by small-scale horizontal axis wind turbine and its energy harvesting potential: An experimental study at large angle of attack

Abstract

With the increasing impacts of climate change on the wind speed, wind-induced vibrations of large-span bridges have become a significant challenge, especially for frequently occurred vortex-induced vibration (VIV). Effective control strategy of such vibrations is crucial for ensuring the long-term safety of bridges. Although previous studies have investigated the control effects of aerodynamic control measures, including passive and active strategies, it is still lack of explorations on the comprehensive design that combine control efficiency and energy potential. Considering the needs for sustainable development of infrastructure, this study proposed a conceptual design of bridge-integrated wind energy system through the installation of small-scale wind turbine, with the aim of combing both effective VIV control and utilizing the abundant green energy around. Through wind tunnel tests at large angle of attack (AoA), the difference of control effects under various arrangement was compared by considering shape and positional parameters. And the possible control mechanism and energy potential were probed by analyzing the results of wind pressure, wake and rotation speed respectively. This study shows that bridge-integrated wind turbine system contributed to the mitigation of vertical VIV phenomenon. And the turbine wake interfered the frequency and energy distribution during VIV, while reduced the wind pressure fluctuations around windward side of girder. While preliminary results of TSR support the energy potentials for above conceptual design, it still needs for further investigations on variable performance of energy output, as well as validating the possible negative effects may bring into bridge structures.