Wind-induced vibration control of long span cable-stayed bridges using multiple pressurized tuned liquid column dampers

This paper explores the possibility of using multiple pressurized tuned liquid column damper (MPTLCD) to reduce wind-induced vibration of long span cable-stayed bridges. By implementing a static pressure inside two sealed air chambers at two ends of a traditional tuned liquid column damper (TLCD), a pressurized tuned liquid column damper (PTLCD) is formed and its natural frequency can be adjusted by not only the length of its liquid column but also the pressure inside its two air chambers. This special feature of PTLCD in frequency tuning greatly facilitates its application to long span cable-stayed bridges for mitigating wind-induced multi-modes of vibration. To further enhance the robustness and effectiveness of PTLCD for vibration control, MPTLCDs are explored in this study. The finite element model of MPTLCD is developed and incorporated into the finite element model of a long span cable-stayed bridge for predicting the buffeting response of the coupled MPTLCD–bridge system in the time domain. The performance of MPTLCD for suppressing combined lateral and torsional vibration of a real long span cable stayed bridge is numerically assessed. The investigations show that the MPTLCD not only provides great flexibility for selecting liquid column length but also significantly reduces the lateral and torsional displacement responses of the long span bridge under wind excitation.