Abstract
The aerodynamic lift responses of geometrically simple bluff prismatic sections to a sharp-edged gust are studied for the purpose of evaluating the gust responses of bridge deck sections in the time domain. A towing water tank that can simulate a sharp-edged gust was specially designed and used in the experiment. The results obtained are: 1) A satisfactory form of a sharp-edged gust is obtained. 2) The indicial aerodynamic lift responses of the models ase qualitatively similar to but quantitatively different from that of an airfoil. 3) Flow patterns around the models are characterized by the leading-edge separation bubbles that are formed and shed downstream during the passage of a sharp-edged gust.
