The effect of wind barriers on the local wind field on a bridge deck

The adverse effect of crosswinds on road vehicles on a bridge deck or traffic lanes is of increasing concern. Local flow characteristics depend on the bridge’s architecture and wind barriers (WBs) are commonly used to alleviate wind-induced instability for vehicles. Terrain orography is another dominant factor. This study uses a terrain model with a coastal bridge (Chen-Kung Bridge, Penghu, Taiwan). The bridge is located between a reservoir and the Taiwan Strait. Numerous accidents have occurred due to strong monsoon winds in autumn and winter. In wind tunnel experiments, an atmosphere boundary layer is established and the test conditions (wind speed and wind incidence) are taken from local meteorological data. The effect of the height of solid WBs on local wind direction and speed is determined. The results can be used to remodel WBs to increase safety for road vehicles.