Control of the wind induced response of structures

Abstract

In recent years, a drive towards the construction of buildings of increasing heights and bridges of increasing span lengths has generated the most fascinating challenges in the civil engineering field. Indeed, the particular sensitivity towind loads of such extreme structures has to be faced when designing structural systems that have to possess adequate stiffness and damping characteristics to ensure acceptable performance for survivability, serviceability and habitability. In order to meet these needs, several routes can be taken that involve different design aspects. In addition to the modification of the structural system, which is the first and foremost option for the structural designers, these can be divided in the adoption of shape tailoring measures, aimed at improving the aerodynamics/aeroelasticity of the structure, and the introduction of auxiliary motion control devices. In this chapter these two aspects are treated, with the intent of providing the reader with a general overview of the engineering solutions that may be considered for the control of the wind induced response of structures. In particular, discussion on the aerodynamic/aeroelastic shape tailoring is provided, alongside with meaningful examples of application of this strategy to real structures. The possibility of adopting motion control devices is also investigated. The most important typologies of devices for the control ofwind induced vibrations are classified according to the principle on which they are based and their main characteristics are illustrated.