Wind response of long-span bridges : In-situ measurements and modal analysis

The design of long-span bridges, for their response to wind excitation involves structural computations, theoretical buffeting analysis and wind tunnel tests on aeroelastic models. After construction, all these stages need to be validated by field measurements during strong wind conditions, and by forced vibration tests. In-situ measurements and data analysis carried out on several European long-span bridges are described, with a special attention on error estimations, and comparisons with previsional wind design studies.