Buffeting analysis of long span bridges: A new algorithm

This paper presents a new algorithm for buffeting analysis of long span bridges, featured mainly by a complete finite element approach and a pseudo-excitation method. Aeroelastic forces on a bridge deck are first converted into nodal forces to form element aeroelastic damping and stiffness matrices. Aerodynamic forces are then converted into nodal forces to obtain an element loading vector. After the system equation of motion is assembled, the pseudoexcitation method is finally applied to determine the buffeting response, which naturally includes inter-mode and multi-mode contributions. The accuracy of the new algorithm is examined by comparison with the Scanlan's method through an example bridge deck. The potential advantages of the algorithm are also pointed out.