Author(s): Stefano Pagliara; Ajit Kumar; Huan Wei; Michele Palermo
Linked Author(s): Stefano Pagliara, Michele Palermo
Keywords: Bridge decks Drag Flood Hydrodynamic forces Lift
Abstract: Bridges are subjected to various forces and stress generated by wind, hydraulic impacts, seismic activity, vehicular loads, temperature fluctuations, and environmental degradation. Among these, the hydraulic impacts play one of the most crucial roles in structural stability of bridges. Although modern bridges are designed to withstand hydraulic impacts, 60% of failures in the United States are still linked to hydraulic events. This indicates that these impacts still require more comprehensive attention. In particular, the effect of movable bed on hydrodynamic forces is still largely unaddressed. So, this paper aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive review of the literature on hydrodynamic forces acting on bridge decks. We critically examine existing studies, including physical experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical models, to evaluate the influence of flow parameters, deck geometries, and hydraulic conditions. Then we discuss the effects of key parametric ratios on hydrodynamic forces, identifying gaps in the current understanding and suggesting directions for future research. Finally, we present novel, selected experimental results from tests conducted at hydraulic laboratory of the University of Pisa, comparing the pressure distribution on bridge decks under both movable and fixed bed conditions.
Year: 2025