Influence of maintenance track slab patterns on wind-induced vibration performance of steel box girder

ObjectiveMaintenance track slabs, common auxiliaries for steel box girders, significantly affect cross-section vortex-induced vibration. This study investigates the influence of maintenance track slab patterns on vibration performance of steel box girders, providing references for rational selection and structural optimization.MethodBased on a suspension bridge, the wind tunnel tests and numerical simulations were used to study the wind-induced vibration performance of sections. The flutter effects of horizontal and inverted L-shaped maintenance track slabs with the most unfavorable angle of attack were compared. Wind-induced vibration performances with different maintenance track slabs with 0°, ±3° and ±5° angles of attack were evaluated by using dimensionless root-mean-square and amplitude. The computational fluid dynamics was used to analyze the vibration performance of different measures with 5° angle of attack.ResultThe inverted L-shaped maintenance track slabs outperform horizontal ones in flutter performance; and the vertical slab size also has certain influences. In vertical and torsional vibrations, the inverted L-shaped maintenance track slabs have better overall vibration suppression than horizontal ones. Additionally, the inverted L-shaped maintenance track slab's vortex distribution favors torsional vibration suppression over horizontal maintenance track slab.ConclusionThe inverted L-shaped maintenance track slabs efficiently suppress flutter and vortex-induced vibration of flat steel box girders, improving the wind-induced stability in complex wind conditions. The findings would offer reliable technical references for selection, design and wind-resistance optimization on slabs for similar long-span suspension bridges.