Numerical simulation of bus aerodynamics on several classes of bridge decks

• Published in: Engineering applications of computational fluid mechanics 2017-01, Vol.11 (1), p.435-449
• Main Authors: Alonso-Estébanez, A., Del Coz Díaz, J. J., Álvarez Rabanal, F. P., Pascual-Muñoz, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerodynamic coefficients; Aerodynamics; Bridge decks; Computational fluid dynamics; computational fluid dynamics (CFD); Computer simulation; Crash barriers; Crosswind; Crosswinds; Design modifications; Design parameters; finite-volume method (FVM); Fluid flow; heavy vehicle aerodynamics; K-omega turbulence model; Mathematical models; Parameter modification; Repair & maintenance; Rollover; Shear stress; Stability; Traffic accidents; Traffic accidents & safety; Traffic safety; Turbulence models; Wind effects; Yaw
• ISSN: 1994-2060; 1997-003X
• DOI: 10.1080/19942060.2016.1201544

This paper is focused on improving traffic safety on bridges under crosswind conditions, as adverse wind conditions can increase the risk of traffic accidents. Two ways to improve traffic safety are investigated: improving vehicle stability by means of wind fences installed on the bridge deck and by modifying the design parameters of the infrastructure. Specifically, this study examines the influence of different parameters related to the bridge deck configuration on the aerodynamic coefficients acting on a bus model under crosswind conditions. The aerodynamic coefficients related to side force, lift force and rollover moment are obtained for three classes of bridge deck (box, girder and board) by numerical simulation. FLUENT was used to solve the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations along with the shear stress transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model. Two crash barriers located on the box bridge deck were replaced with an articulating wind fence model and the effect of the angle between the wind fence and the horizontal plane on the bus aerodynamic was investigated. The risk of rollover accidents was found to be slightly influenced by the bridge deck type for a yaw angle range between 75° and 120°. In order to study the effect of the yaw angle on the aerodynamic coefficients acting on bus, both the bus model and the bridge model were simultaneously rotated. The minimum value of the rollover coefficient was obtained for an angle of 60° between the wind fence slope and the horizontal plane. The only geometry parameter of the box bridge deck which significantly affects bus aerodynamics is the box height. The present research highlights the usefulness of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for improving traffic safety, studying the performance of the articulating wind fence, and determining which geometry parameters of the box deck have a significant influence on the bus stability.