ABSTRACT
This study addresses the challenge of maintaining the stability of running vehicles on sea-crossing bridges in the presence of strong side winds. To ensure safety, bridge operators often limit speed or close bridges when wind speeds reach predetermined criteria. However, critical wind speeds vary from bridge to bridge due to influential factors such as geometrical shape and road surface conditions. This study proposes a framework to determine critical wind speeds, considering rain or icing road conditions during severe weather. The study also reports on two overturning accidents on double-deck suspension and cable-stayed bridges and extends the procedure to probabilistic risk assessment for the bridge’s lifetime. The results provide guidelines for bridge operators to balance driving safety and mobility in hazardous weather conditions.
