Full-scale measurements on the Erasmus Bridge after rain/wind induced cable vibrations

In November 1996, the Erasmus bridge was subjected to the phenomenon “rain/wind induced vibrations”. Under rain and windy weather the stay-cables started to vibrate. During this incident the bridge was closed for all traffic while the stay-cables were immediately connected to the bridge deck by poly-ethyleen ropes, whereafter the vibrations quickly died out. A full-scale test-campaign was initiated by the Public Works of Rotterdam to avoid cable vibrations in future resulting in newly installed hydraulic dampers between cables and bridge deck. A preliminary monitoring system was installed to verify whether the dampers did not introduce negative effects on the vibrational behaviour of the bridge deck itself and to verify the vibrational amplitudes due to vortex-excitation as predicted by wind tunnel tests. Up till now, vibrations of any importance have not been reported.