On the identification of flutter derivatives of bridge decks via RANS turbulence models: Benchmarking on rectangular prisms

•The forced vibration tests performed by Matsumoto on rectangular prisms are numerically reproduced.•A deep numerical investigation of the RANS models performance in predicting aeroelastic forces is provided.•The accuracy and the limits of applicability of RANS approach are identified.•Guidelines useful to engineers approaching numerical evaluation of flutter derivatives are set.

In this paper, the ability of two RANS-based turbulence models, the standard k–ωk–ω and the k–ωk–ω sst (shear-stress-transport formulation), in predicting flutter derivatives of elongated rectangular prisms with different aspect ratios is investigated. Strengths and limitations of the employed methodology are highlighted via comparisons with available experimental results, aiming at identifying some operative indications for choosing a suitable modeling approach (not much time-consuming and suitably accurate), useful for engineers facing the aerodynamic design of bridge structures. The influence of discrepancies among experimental measurements and RANS-based numerical results on the aeroelastic stability of bridge-like structures is also discussed.