Assessment of driving safety and comfort during vortex-induced vibrations in a long-span bridge considering wind-vehicle-bridge interactions

Vortex-induced vibration (VIV) has a detrimental influence on the traffic management of bridges and threatens driving safety and comfort. To quantitatively assess driving safety and comfort under VIV conditions, this study incorporates a nonlinear vortex-excited force aerodynamic model to simulate VIVs based on the classic theory of wind-vehicle-bridge interactions. Based on the wheel load reduction rate and acceleration response to vehicle vibration, driving safety and comfort are analyzed from the perspective of vehicle dynamic performance. A novel approach is firstly proposed to quantify the influence of blind area on driving safety by incorporating the concept of stopping sight distance, along with the introduction of a general fitting formula to address this issue. Additionally, the factors influencing drivers’ vision under VIV are discussed, including height, distance and time-history. This study provides a comprehensive comparison of the permitted limits on VIV amplitudes from the perspectives of driving safety and comfort, highlighting the significance of considering the comfort index based on vehicle dynamic response. This approach effectively addresses the shortcomings of existing specifications in assessing driving comfort while proposing formulations for calculating VIV amplitude limits at different vehicle speeds, aiming to increase the maximal transportation capacity.