In order to provide a reliable basis for wind resistant evaluation of a long-span suspension bridge, a structural health monitoring system is installed on a bridge in the East China Sea and the simultaneous wind data at the bridge deck and at the top of the bridge tower are recorded. The average wind speeds and directions, variations of wind speeds with height, turbulent characteristics, spatial correlation and characteristics of wind flow around the bridge deck are analyzed by using statistical methods and spectral analysis. It is found that the average wind speeds along the bridge girder are almost identical; however, the mean wind directions vary greatly at different locations. The dimensionless exponent decreases as the average wind speed increases. The measured turbulence intensities are greater than the recommended values, and the turbulence power spectrum can well fit the standard spectrum. However, the measured spectral values are considerably smaller in low frequency ranges. The mean wind speed of the wake flow decreases and the turbulence intensity increases significantly, and the spectral characteristics of the wake flow change obviously while the feature frequency of vortex shedding has not yet been observed.
All the progress from design to construction of Xihoumen Bridge project and some technical questions were researched, such as design idea considering topography condition, structure choosing considering wind resist and controlling progression of construction considering complex ocean environment, etc. The key technical innovations reached international advanced level.
