Effects of different types of wind barriers on the wind environment of large-span bridge decks in atmospheric turbulence boundary layers

In this study, the wind environment on the bridge deck of a full-scale long-span bridge with a streamlined girder is investigated under the influence of various wind barriers. A three-dimensional full-scale bridge model is developed, and large eddy simulations are performed with turbulent inflow boundary conditions. The comprehensive evaluation index R is proposed to quantify the wind-shielding performance of different barrier configurations. The results indicate that the deck wind velocity increases with the angle at which the incoming flow penetrates the barrier gaps, with larger angles producing stronger winds. In non-tower regions, the installation of wind barriers increases turbulence intensity, whereas in tower regions it leads to a reduction. The spatial variation of turbulence intensity is attributed to differences in wake development and flow reattachment caused by the barrier–tower interaction. Comparison of the proposed index R indicates that, under the present engineering conditions, the C-shaped wind barriers deliver superior overall wind-shielding performance compared with the elliptical wind barriers and rectangular wind barriers. These findings provide a practical framework for evaluating and optimizing wind barrier designs for long-span bridges.