Aerodynamic behaviour of an inclined circular cylinder

Cheng, Shaohong,Larose, Guy L.,Savage, Mike G.,Tanaka, Hiroshi Techno-Press 2003 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.6 No.3

Galloping instability of dry inclined cables of cable-stayed bridges has been reported by Japanese researchers. A suggested stability criterion based on some experimental studies in Japan implies that many of stay cables would be expected to suffer galloping instability, which, if valid, would cause serious difficulty in the design of cable-stayed bridges. However, this is not the case in reality. Thus, it is practically urgent and necessary to confirm the validity of this criterion and possible restriction of it. In the present study, a 2D sectional cable model was tested in the wind tunnel, and effects of various physical parameters were investigated. It is found that the stability criterion suggested by Japanese researchers is more conservative than the results obtained from the current study.

Correlation of aerodynamic forces on an inclined circular cylinder

Cheng, Shaohong,Tanaka, Hiroshi Techno-Press 2005 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.8 No.2

Divergent galloping-like motion of a dry inclined cable has been observed in a limited number of experimental studies, which, due to the uncertainties in its onset conditions, has induced serious concerns in the bridge stay cable design. A series of dynamic and static model wind tunnel tests have been carried out to confirm the existence of the phenomenon and clarify its excitation mechanism. The present paper focuses on exploring the spatial flow structure around an inclined cable. The pattern of resultant aerodynamic forces acting at different longitudinal locations of the model and the spatial correlation of the forces are examined. The results lead one step closer in revealing the physical nature of the phenomenon.

Correlation of aerodynamic forces on an inclined circular cylinder

Shaohong Cheng,Hiroshi Tanaka 한국풍공학회 2005 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.8 No.2

Spatial flow structure around a smooth circular cylinder in the critical Reynolds number regime under cross-flow condition

Raeesi, Arash,Cheng, Shaohong,Ting, David S.K. Techno-Press 2008 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.11 No.3

The spanwise flow structure around a rigid smooth circular cylinder model in cross-flow has been investigated based on the experimental data obtained from a series of wind tunnel tests. Surface pressures were collected at five spanwise locations along the cylinder over a Reynolds number range of $1.14{\times}15^5$ to $5.85{\times}10^5$, which covered sub-critical, single-bubble and two-bubble regimes in the critical range. Separation angles were deduced from curve fitted to the surface pressure data. In addition, spanwise correlations and power spectra analyses were employed to study the spatial structure of flow. Results at different spanwise locations show that the transition into single-bubble and two-bubble regimes could occur at marginally different Reynolds numbers which expresses the presence of overlap regions in between the single-bubble regime and its former and later regimes. This indicates the existence of three-dimensional flow around the circular cylinder in cross-flow, which is also supported by the observed cell-like surface pressure patterns. Relatively strong spanwise correlation of the flow characteristics is observed before each transition within the critical regime, or formation of first and second separation-bubbles. It is also noted that these organized flow structures might lead to greater overall aerodynamic forces on a circular cylinder in cross-flow within the critical Reynolds number regime.

An equivalent linearization method for nonlinear systems under nonstationary random excitations using orthogonal functions

Amir Younespour,Shaohong Cheng,Hosein Ghaffarzadeh 국제구조공학회 2018 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.66 No.1

Many practical engineering problems are associated with nonlinear systems subjected to nonstationary random excitations. Equivalent linearization methods are commonly used to seek for approximate solutions to this kind of problems. Compared to various approaches developed in the frequency and mixed time-frequency domains, though directly solving the system equation of motion in the time domain would improve computation efficiency, only limited studies are available. Considering the fact that the orthogonal functions have been widely used to effectively improve the accuracy of the approximated responses and reduce the computational cost in various engineering applications, an orthogonal-function-based equivalent linearization method in the time domain has been proposed in the current paper for nonlinear systems subjected to nonstationary random excitations. In the numerical examples, the proposed approach is applied to a SDOF system with a set-up spring and a SDOF Duffing oscillator subjected to stationary and nonstationary excitations. In addition, its applicability to nonlinear MDOF systems is examined by a 3DOF Duffing system subjected to nonstationary excitation. Results show that the proposed method can accurately predict the nonlinear system response and the formulation of the proposed approach allows it to be capable of handling any general type of nonstationary random excitations, such as the seismic load.

An equivalent linearization method for nonlinear systems under nonstationary random excitations using orthogonal functions

Younespour, Amir,Cheng, Shaohong,Ghaffarzadeh, Hosein Techno-Press 2018 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.66 No.1

Many practical engineering problems are associated with nonlinear systems subjected to nonstationary random excitations. Equivalent linearization methods are commonly used to seek for approximate solutions to this kind of problems. Compared to various approaches developed in the frequency and mixed time-frequency domains, though directly solving the system equation of motion in the time domain would improve computation efficiency, only limited studies are available. Considering the fact that the orthogonal functions have been widely used to effectively improve the accuracy of the approximated responses and reduce the computational cost in various engineering applications, an orthogonal-function-based equivalent linearization method in the time domain has been proposed in the current paper for nonlinear systems subjected to nonstationary random excitations. In the numerical examples, the proposed approach is applied to a SDOF system with a set-up spring and a SDOF Duffing oscillator subjected to stationary and nonstationary excitations. In addition, its applicability to nonlinear MDOF systems is examined by a 3DOF Duffing system subjected to nonstationary excitation. Results show that the proposed method can accurately predict the nonlinear system response and the formulation of the proposed approach allows it to be capable of handling any general type of nonstationary random excitations, such as the seismic load.

Impact of seawater corrosion and freeze-thaw cycles on the behavior of eccentrically loaded reinforced concrete columns

Diao, Bo,Sun, Yang,Ye, Yinghua,Cheng, Shaohong Techno-Press 2012 Ocean systems engineering Vol.2 No.2

Reinforced concrete structures in cold coastal regions are subjected to coupled effects of service load, freeze-thaw cycles and seawater corrosion. This would significantly degrade the performance and therefore shorten the service life of these structures. In the current paper, the mechanical properties of concrete material and the structural behaviour of eccentrically loaded reinforced concrete columns under multiple actions of seawater corrosion, freeze-thaw cycles and persistent load have been studied experimentally. Results show that when exposed to alternating actions of seawater corrosion and freeze-thaw cycles, the compressive strength of concrete decreases with the increased number of freeze-thaw cycles. For reinforced concrete column, if it is only subjected to seawater corrosion and freeze-thaw cycles, the load resistance capacity is found to be reduced by 11.5%. If a more practical service condition of reinforced concrete structures in cold coastal regions is simulated, i.e., the environmental factors are coupled with persistent loading, a rapid drop of 15% - 26.9% in the ultimate capacity of the eccentrically loaded reinforced concrete column is identified. Moreover, it is observed that the increase of eccentric load serves to accelerate the deterioration of column structural behavior.

Advancing drag crisis of a sphere via the manipulation of integral length scale

Niloofar Moradian,David S-K. Ting,Shaohong Cheng 한국풍공학회 2011 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.14 No.1

Spherical object in wind is a common scenario in daily life and engineering practice. The main challenge in understanding the aerodynamics in turbulent wind lies in the multi aspect of turbulence. This paper presents a wind tunnel study, which focuses on the role of turbulence integral length scale Λ on the drag of a sphere. Particular turbulent flow conditions were achieved via the proper combination of wind speed, orifice perforated plate, sphere diameter (D) and distance downstream from the plate. The drag was measured in turbulent flow with 2.2 × 10^4 ≤ Re ≤ 8 × 10^4, 0.043 ≤ ∧/D ≤ 3.24, and turbulence intensity Tu up to 6.3%. Our results confirmed the general trends of decreasing drag coefficient and critical Reynolds number with increasing turbulence intensity. More interestingly, the unique role of the relative integral length scale has been revealed. Over the range of conditions studied, an integral length of approximately 65% the sphere diameter is most effective in reducing the drag.

Advancing drag crisis of a sphere via the manipulation of integral length scale

Moradian, Niloofar,Ting, David S.K.,Cheng, Shaohong Techno-Press 2011 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.14 No.1

Spherical object in wind is a common scenario in daily life and engineering practice. The main challenge in understanding the aerodynamics in turbulent wind lies in the multi-aspect of turbulence. This paper presents a wind tunnel study, which focuses on the role of turbulence integral length scale ${\Lambda}$ on the drag of a sphere. Particular turbulent flow conditions were achieved via the proper combination of wind speed, orifice perforated plate, sphere diameter (D) and distance downstream from the plate. The drag was measured in turbulent flow with $2.2{\times}10^4{\leq}Re{\leq}8{\times}10^4$, $0.043{\leq}{\Lambda}/D{\leq}3.24$, and turbulence intensity Tu up to 6.3%. Our results confirmed the general trends of decreasing drag coefficient and critical Reynolds number with increasing turbulence intensity. More interestingly, the unique role of the relative integral length scale has been revealed. Over the range of conditions studied, an integral length of approximately 65% the sphere diameter is most effective in reducing the drag.

Nonlinear model to predict the torsional response of U-shaped thin-walled RC members

Shenggang Chen,Yinghua Ye,Quanquan Guo,Shaohong Cheng,Bo Diao 국제구조공학회 2016 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.60 No.6

Based on Vlasov‟s torsional theory of open thin-walled members and the nonlinear constitutive relations of materials, a nonlinear analysis model to predict response of open thin-walled RC members subjected to pure torsion is proposed in the current study. The variation of the circulatory torsional stiffness and warping torsional stiffness over the entire loading process and the impact of warping shear deformation on the torsion-induced rotation of the member are considered in the formulation. The torque equilibrium differential equation is then solved by Runge-Kutta method. The proposed nonlinear model is then applied to predict the behavior of five U-shaped thin-walled RC members under pure torsion. Four of them were tested in an earlier experimental study by the authors and the testing data of the fifth one were reported in an existing literature. Results show that the analytical predictions based on the proposed model agree well with the experimental data of all five specimens. This clearly shows the validity of the proposed nonlinear model analyzing behavior of U-shaped thin-walled RC members under pure torsion.