Flutter derivatives based random parametric excitation aerodynamic analysis

To study the effects of wind turbulence on bridge aerodynamic instability, previous researchers used indicial functions to express the aerodynamic forces and then conducted Random Parametric Excitation (RPE) analyses. To make not only a finite element formulation possible, but also to reduce computational effort, the present study uses flutter derivatives in a finite element based RPE analysis. The application of aerodynamic forces measured from a section model to the finite element model of its prototype bridge is discussed. The concept of equivalent flutter derivatives is introduced to resolve the difference between section and finite element models.