Flutter instability prediction techniques for bridge deck sections

In order to investigate the fluid/structure interaction of a bridge deck in a cross wind, a two-dimensional hp/Spectral fluid solver has been modified to incorporate a body undergoing translational and rotational motion. A moving frame of reference is attached to the body to utilize the efficiency of a fixed mesh solver. The critical reduced velocity at which a bridge deck undergoes a two degree of freedom flutter instability is then predicted using various methods: a theoretical linear potential model; quasi-steady theory; a linear evaluation of applied forces using prescribed motion; and free translational and rotational motion of the structure. These predictions are compared with experimental data and the various merits of each scheme are reported.