Wind Tunnel Testing of the Karnali River Bridge

An extended wind tunnel testing program of the erection procedures and the stability of the completed one-tower cable-stayed Karnali River Bridge was conducted with the help of full bridge aeroelastic and sectional rigid models. The investigation of the erection stages included the free standing steel tower and the cantilever erection of the main span in the presence of or without heavy construction equipment. The beneficial effects of temporary guy wires and a semi-mass damper were investigated. All tests were conducted in smooth and turbulent wind flows.