• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.37-66
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• 2008

This paper focuses on the nonlinear vibrations of stay cables and evaluates the dynamic characteristics of stay cables by using the nonlinear enhanced MECS approach and the approximate approach. The nonlinear enhanced MECS approach is that both the girder-tower vibrations and the cable vibrations including parametric cable vibrations are simultaneously considered in the numerical analysis of cable-stayed bridges. Cable finite element method is used to simulate the responses including the parametric vibrations of stay cables. The approximate approach is based on the assumption that cable vibrations have a small effect on girder-tower vibrations, and analyzes the local cable vibrations after obtaining the girder-tower responses. Under the periodic excitations or the moderate ground motion, the differences of the responses of stay cables between these two approaches are evaluated in detail. The effect of cable vibrations on the girder and towers are also discussed. As a result, the dynamic characteristics of the parametric vibrations in stay cables can be evaluated by using the approximate approach or the nonlinear enhanced MECS approach. Since the different axial force fluctuant of stay cables in both ends of one girder causes the difference response values between two approach, it had better use the nonlinear enhanced MECS approach to perform the dynamic analyses of cable-stayed bridges.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.691-711
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• 2006

This paper uses the finite element method to simultaneously consider the coupled cable-deck vibrations and the parametric vibrations of stay cables in dynamic analysis of a cable-stayed bridge. The stay cables are represented by some cable finite elements, which can consider the parametric vibration of the cables. In addition to modeling stay cables using multiple link cable elements, a procedure for removing the self-weight term of cable element is proposed. A eigenvalue analysis process using dynamic condensation method for sorting out the natural modes of the girder-tower vibrations and the Rayleigh damping considering element damping for damping matrix are also proposed for dynamic analyses of cable-stayed bridges. The possibilities of using cable elements and of using global and local vibrations to evaluate the parametric vibrations of stay cables in a cable-stayed bridge are confirmed, respectively.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2003

Rain-wind induced vibrations of cables are a challenging problem in the design of cable-stayed bridges. The precise excitation mechanism of the complex interaction between structure, wind and rain is still unknown. A theoretical model that is able to accurately simulate the observed phenomena is not available. This paper presents a mathematical model describing rain-wind induced vibrations as movement-induced vibrations using the quasi-steady strip theory. Both, the vibrations of the cable and the movement of the water rivulet on the cable surface can be described by the model including all geometrical and physical nonlinearities. The analysis using the stability and bifurcation theory shows that the model is capable of simulating the basic phenomena of the vibrations, such as dependence of wind velocity and cable damping. The results agree well with field data and wind tunnel tests. An extensive experimental study is currently performed to calibrate the parameters of the model.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2023

This paper begins by analyzing cable vibrations due to external excitations and their effects on the overall dynamic behavior of cable-stayed bridges. It is concluded that if the natural frequency of a cable approaches any natural frequency of the bridge, the cable loses its rigidity and functionality. The results of this analysis explain the phenomenon that occurred on the Dubrovnik Bridge in Croatia during a storm and measures for its retrofit. A field test was conducted before the bridge was opened to traffic. It was concluded: "The Bridge excited unpleasant transverse superstructure vibration with the frequency of approximately 0.470 Hz. Hence, it seems possible that a pair of stays vibrating in phase may excite deck vibrations". Soon after this Bridge opened, a storm dumped heavy damp snow in the area, causing the six longest cable stay pairs of the main span to undergo large-amplitude vibrations, and the superstructure underwent considerable displacements in combined torsion-sway and bending modes. This necessitated rehabilitation measures for the Bridge including devices to suppress the large-amplitude vibrations of cables. The rehabilitation and monitoring of the Bridge are also presented here.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.221-235
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• 2023

To calculate the vibrations of a tout cable subjected to axial support excitations, a nonlinear relationship of cable force and the support displacement under static situations are employed to depict the quasi-static vibration of the cable. The dynamic components of quasi-static vibration are inputted as "direct loads" to cause the parametric vibrations on the cable. Both the governing equations of motion and deformation compatibility for parametric vibrations are then derived, which indicates the high coupling of cable parametric force and deformation. Numerical solutions, based on the finite difference method, are put forward for the parametric vibrations, which is validated by the finite element method under periodic axial support excitations. For the quasi-static response, the shorter cables are more sensitive to support excitations than longer ones at small cable force. The quasi-static cable force makes the greatest contribution to the total cable force, but the parametric cable force is responsible for the occurrence of cable loosening at large excitation amplitudes. Moreover, this study also revealed that the traditional approach, assuming a linear relationship between quasi-static cable force and axial support displacement, would result in some great error of the cable parametric responses.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.90 no.4
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• pp.325-343
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• 2024

Triple-tower double-cable suspension bridges have increased confinement stiffness imposed by the main cable on the middle tower, which has bright application prospects. However, vertical bending and torsional vibrations of the double-cable and the girder are coupled in such bridges due to the hangers. In particular, the bending vibration of the towers in the longitudinal direction and torsional vibrations about the vertical axis influence the vertical bending and torsional vibrations of the stiffening girders, respectively. The conventional analytical algorithm for assessing the dynamic features of the suspension bridge is not directly applicable to this type of bridge. This study attempts to mitigate this problem by introducing an analytical algorithm for solving the triple-tower double-cable suspension bridge's natural frequencies and mode shapes. D'Alembert's principle is employed to construct the differential equations of the vertical bending and torsional vibrations of the stiffening girder continuum in each span. Vibrations of stiffening girders in each span are interrelated via the vibrations of the main cables and the bridge towers. On this basis, the natural frequencies and mode shapes are derived by separating variables. The proposed algorithm is then applied to an engineering example. The natural frequencies and mode shapes of vertical bending and torsional vibrations derived by the analytical algorithm agreed well with calculations via the finite element method. The fundamental frequency of vertical bending and first- and second-order torsion frequencies of double-cable suspension bridges are much higher than those of single-cable suspension bridges. The analytical algorithm has high computational efficiency and calculation accuracy, which can provide a reference for selecting appropriate structural parameters to meet the requirements of dynamics during the preliminary design.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.611-623
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• 2010

Excessive stay cable vibrations can cause severe problems for cable-stayed bridges. In this paper a semiactive Magnetorheological (MR) damper is investigated to reduce cable vibrations. The control-oriented cable-damper model is first established; a computer simulation for the cable-damper system is carried out; and finally a MR damper is experimentally used to reduce the cable vibration in a laboratory environment using a semiactive control algorithm. Both the simulation and experimental results show that the semiactive MR damper achieves better control results than the corresponding passive damper.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.513-534
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• 2008

This paper examines local vibrations in the stay cables of a cable-stayed bridge subjected to wind gusts. The wind loads, including the self-excited load and the buffeting load, are converted into time-domain values using the rational function approximation and the multidimensional autoregressive process, respectively. The global motion of the girder, which is generated by the wind gusts, is analyzed using the modal analysis method. The local vibration of stay cables is calculated using a model in which an inclined cable is subjected to time-varying displacement at one support under global vibration. This model can consider both forced vibration and parametric vibration. The response characteristics of the local vibrations in the stay cables under wind gusts are described using an existing cable-stayed bridge. The results of the numerical analysis show a significant difference between the combined parametric and forced vibrations and the forced vibration.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.565-577
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• 2019

One of the most effective countermeasures for mitigating cable vibration is to install mechanical dampers near the anchorage of the cable. Most of the dampers used in the field are so-called passive dampers where their parameters cannot be changed once designed. The parameters of passive dampers are usually determined based on the optimal damper force obtained from the universal design curve for linear dampers, which will provide a maximum additional damping for the cable. As the optimal damper force is chosen based on a predetermined principal vibration mode, passive dampers will be most effective if cable undergoes single-mode vibration where the vibration mode is the same as the principal mode used in the design. However, in the actual engineering practice, multi-mode vibrations are often observed for cables. Therefore, it is desirable to have dampers that can suppress different modes of cable vibrations simultaneously. In this paper, MR dampers are proposed for controlling multi-mode cable vibrations, because of its ability to change parameters and its adaptability of active control without inquiring large power resources. Although the highly nonlinear feature of the MR material leads to a relatively complex representation of its mathematical model, effective control strategies can still be derived for suppressing multi-mode cable vibrations based on nonlinear modelling, as proposed in this paper. Firstly, the nonlinear Bouc-wen model is employed to accurately portray the salient characteristics of the MR damper. Then, the desired optimal damper force is determined from the universal design curve of friction dampers. Finally, the input voltage (current) of MR damper corresponding to the desired optimal damper force is calculated from the nonlinear Bouc-wen model of the damper using a piecewise linear interpolation scheme. Numerical simulations are carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm for mitigating multi-mode cable vibrations induced by different external excitations.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.83-94
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• 2019

Passive negative stiffness dampers (NSDs) that possess superior energy dissipation abilities, have been proved to be more efficient than commonly adopted passive viscous dampers in controlling stay cable vibrations. Recently, inertial mass dampers (IMDs) have attracted extensive attentions since their properties are similar to NSDs. It has been theoretically predicted that superior supplemental damping can be generated for a taut cable with an IMD. This paper aims to theoretically investigate the impact of the cable sag on the efficiency of an IMD in controlling stay cable vibrations, and experimentally validate superior vibration mitigation performance of the IMD. Both the numerical and asymptotic solutions were obtained for an inclined sag cable with an IMD installed close to the cable end. Based on the asymptotic solution, the cable attainable maximum modal damping ratio and the corresponding optimal damping coefficient of the IMD were derived for a given inertial mass. An electromagnetic IMD (EIMD) with adjustable inertial mass was developed to investigate the effects of inertial mass and cable sag on the vibration mitigation performance of two model cables with different sags through series of first modal free vibration tests. The results show that the sag generally reduces the attainable first modal damping ratio of the cable with a passive viscous damper, while tends to increase the cable maximum attainable modal damping ratio provided by the IMD. The cable sag also decreases the optimum damping coefficient of the IMD when the inertial mass is less than its optimal value. The theoretically predicted first modal damping ratio of the cable with an IMD, taking into account the sag generally, agrees well with that identified from experimental results, while it will be significantly overestimated with a taut-cable model, especially for the cable with large sag.