Optimal passive and semi-active control of a wind excited suspension bridge

Herein, a model of an existing suspension bridge is developed at the numerical level in the ANSYS finite element code starting from original data, and it is used (a) to simulate the structural response under strong wind excitation; (b) to assess the efficacy for the bridge protection of passive and on/off Skyhook semi-active control laws, here presented in a modified version, with due attention on their feasibility and reliability. Their efficacy is shown and the factors contributing to their positive performance are highlighted. Wind loading, corresponding to the extreme event, derives from generated 3D turbulent wind fields, non-homogeneous in space to consider the atmospheric boundary layer. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.