CFD simulation of flow around bridge sections

Abstract

This paper deals with the numerical simulation of flow around a 1:5 rectangular cylinder and a realistic bridge section. The Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) and the Detached-Eddy Simulation (DES) techniques are employed. The influence of various modelling parameters, such as turbulence modelling, and flow parameters, such as Reynolds number and incidence angle, is investigated. Validation of computed results with experimental data shows that the URANS approach is capable of predicting basic unsteady features of flow in the considered cases, although more sophisticated approaches, such as DES, are needed to overcome its limitations. In addition, it is highlighted that the degree of sharpness of section corners plays a key role in the development of flow around typical bridge deck profiles and hence strongly affects the Strouhal number and the aerodynamic coefficients.