Análisis de sensibilidad y optimización aeroelástica de puentes colgantes en entornos de computación distribuída

Abstract

Until this moment, design based upon sensitivity analysis or optimum design have not been commonly used in the project of long span bridges. However, suspension and cable stayed bridges are being constructed with longer and longer spans. Therefore, it is essential to use non-conventional design techniques in order to reach maximum performance in the design process as well as in the execution of these structures. One of the most important issues in the design of suspension bridges is their behaviour under wind flow. In this thesis, analitical evaluation of sensitivity analyses of flutter speed and reduced frequency considering variable mass with regards to the mechanical parameters of the bridge deck are presented. In addition, formulation of the optimum design problem of long span bridges with aerodynamic cross sections is developed considering aeroelastic and also kinematic constraints. Application examples for the Grand Belt bridge and the Messina Strait bridge are presented, applying distributed computing techniques due to the enormous computational cost of the design process.