Influence of Regional Climate on Aerodynamic Forces for Long-Span Bridge Deck

Abstract

This study frames the aerodynamic response of the reinforced concrete trapezoidal box grider under extreme climatic conditions from three geographically distinct regions: the katabatic wind-dominated Antarctic, the transitional Arctic Circle, and the hot, low-density Sahara Desert, highlighting the micro parameters of the climate influencing the aerodynamic response. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was done in ANSYS Fluent, addressing the utilisation of the standard k-ε turbulence model and Sutherland’s temperature-dependent viscosity formulation. Aerodynamic coefficients were evaluated from -8° to +8°. The validation against the literature amplifies the accuracy of the methodology. The results indicate the vital role of climatic parameters on aerodynamic force. The cold & high wind speed as from Antarctica shows the most critical aerodynamic response with a stronger eddy viscosity; in contrast, the Sahara desert’s hot and low-density atmosphere provided a low substantial force The findings highlight that aerodynamic force magnitudes vary greatly with regional climatic parameters, indicating that design considerations must incorporate localised environmental factors to ensure bridge safety and performance under extreme wind conditions. This study provides novel insights into region-specific aero-dynamic challenges for long-span bridge decks, promoting better-informed structural design to mitigate risks associated with diverse climatic influences.