Static and dynamic analysis of cable-suspended concrete beams

A new theory of weightless sagging planer elasto-flexible cables under point loads is developed earlier by the authors and used for predicting the nonlinear dynamic response of cable-suspended linear elastic beams. However, this theory is not valid for nonlinear elastic cracked concrete beams possessing different positive and negative flexural rigidity. In the present paper, the flexural response of simply supported cracked concrete beams suspended from cables by two hangers is presented. Following a procedure established earlier, rate-type constitutive equations and third order nonlinear differential equations of motion for the structures undergoing small elastic displacements are derived. Upon general quasi-static loading, negative nodal forces, moments and support reactions may be introduced in the cable-suspended concrete beams and linear modal frequencies may abruptly change. Subharmonic resonances are predicted under harmonic loading. Uncoupling of the nodal response is proposed as a more general criterion of crossover phenomenon. Significance of the bilinearity ratio of the concrete beam and elasto-configurational displacements of the cable for the structural response is brought out. The relevance of the proposed theory for the analysis and the design of the cable-suspended bridges is critically evaluated.