• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2014

In this study nonlinear FEM analysis for steel pylon base of a cable supported bridge is performed in order to compare the results of Akashi-Kaikyo bridge's design specification established in 1970. Due to convenience of its application, the Akashi grand bridge's design specification has been applied to the base design of cable stayed bridges. It has been using linear spring in order to model prestressed high tensioned bars between steel pylon bottom plates and the base concrete. However, the results of nonlinear FEM analysis revealed that the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge's design specification has various problems in the analysis of the steel pylon base. And the steel pylon base has various complex members connecting with each other, and it is main member to resist against the wind load or the earthquake load. Therefore, the nonlinear FEM analysis has to be conducted in order to predict the behavior of steel pylon base exactly. Also, the nonlinear FEM analysis is more reasonable for the load and resistant factor design.