Predictability of unsteady two-dimensional k−ε model on the aerodynamic instabilities of some rectangular prisms

It is well known that a bluff body cross-section exhibits various kinds of aerodynamic instabilities such as vortex-induced vibration, galloping and torsional flutter. Since these cross-sections are used in long-span bridges and tall buildings, it is important to predict their occurrence in wind resistant structural design. In this paper, the authors make a series of comparisons of unsteady wind forces, unsteady pressure distributions and free vibration responses between previously conducted studies and an unsteady two-dimensional k–ε model for rectangular cross-sections with cross-sectional ratios of 2 and 4 in a smooth uniform flow in order to verify computational predictability of aerodynamic instabilities. As a result, the computation successfully predicted the onset velocities and responses of these aerodynamic instabilities for these cross-sectional ratios, which are common to tall buildings and long bridges.