AERODYNAMICS AND ICING OF BRIDGE CABLES WITH CONCAVE FILLETS

An understanding of the exact mechanisms behind the drag retention or reduction of taller concave sharp-edged fillets will allow for further reductions in drag of cables and other similar structures. The reductions can be achieved without reducing the ability of the fillets to stop the formation of vibration-inducing rain rivulets. Furthermore, intelligent positioning of the fillets can lead to a surface configuration that will help to mitigate the effects of falling ice or snow on vehicles and persons traversing a bridge. This can be done e.g. by positioning the fillets in a way that they will retain the snow or ice longer and then subsequently allow the melted accretions to fall from the cable in smaller, less hazardous pieces