• Wind and Structures
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.357-368
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• 2018

For a long cable-stayed bridge, stay cables are its most important load-carrying components. In this paper, long-term monitoring of super-long stay cables of Sutong Bridge is introduced. A comprehensive data analysis procedure is presented, in which time domain and frequency domain based analyses are carried out. In time domain, the vibration data of several long stay cables are firstly analyzed and the standard deviation of the acceleration of stay cables, and its variation with time are obtained, as well as the relationship between in-plane vibration and out-plane vibration. Meanwhile, some vibrations such as wind and rain induced vibration are detected. Through frequency domain analysis, the basic frequencies of the stay cables are identified. Furthermore, the axial forces and their statistical parameters are acquired. To investigate the vibration deflection, an FFT-based decomposition method is used to get the modal deflection. In the end, the relationship between the vibration amplitude of stay cables and the wind speed is investigated based on correlation analysis. Through the adopted procedure, some structural parameters of the stay cables have been derived, which can be used for evaluating the component performance and corresponding management of stay cables.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.121-133
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• 2007

To gain understanding of the applicability of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) cable in cable-supported bridges, based on the Runyang Bridge and Jinsha Bridge, a suspension bridge using CFRP cables and a cable-stayed bridge using CFRP stay cables are schemed, in which the cable's cross-sectional area is determined by the principle of equivalent axial stiffness. Numerical investigations on the dynamic behavior, aerostatic and aerodynamic stability of the two bridges are conducted by 3D nonlinear analysis, and the effect of different cable materials on the wind resistance is discussed. The results show that as CFRP cables are used in cable-supported bridges, (1) structural natural frequencies are all increased, and particularly great increase of the torsional frequency occurs for suspension bridges; (2) under the static wind action, structural deformation is increased, however its aerostatic stability is basically remained the same as that of the case with steel cables; (3) for suspension bridge, its aerodynamic stability is superior to that of the case with steel cables, but for cable-stayed bridge, it is basically the same as that of the case with steel stay cables. Therefore as far as the wind resistance is considered, the use of CFRP cables in cable-supported bridges is feasible, and the cable's cross-sectional area should be determined by the principle of equivalent axial stiffness.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.853-862
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• 2020

In recent years, due to the many advantages cable-stayed bridges have often constructed in medium and long span. These advantages can be listed as an aesthetically pleasing appearance, economic and easy construction, etc. The main structural elements of cable-stayed bridges are listed as deck, pylon, cables and foundation. Perhaps one of the most vital and expensive of these structural elements is stay-cables. Stay-cables ensure the allowable displacement and distribution of bending moments along the bridge deck with prestressing force. Therefore the optimum design of the stay-cables and prestressing force are very important in achieving the performance expected from the cable-stayed bridges. This paper aims to obtain the stay-cables size and prestressing force optimization of the cable-stayed bridge. For this purpose, single pylon and fan type cable configuration Manavgat Cable-Stayed Bridge was selected as an example. The three dimensional (3D) finite element model (FEM) of the bridge was created with SAP2000. Analysis of the 3D FEM of the bridge was conducted under the different combined effects of the self-weight of the structural element, prestressing force of stay-cable and live load. Stay-cable stress and deck displacement were taken into account as constraints for the optimization problem. To optimize this existing bridge a metaheuristic algorithm named Jaya was used in the optimization process. 3D FEM of the selected bridge was repeatedly analyzed by using Open Applicable Programming Interface (OAPI) properties of SAP2000. To carry out the optimization process the developed program which integrates the Jaya algorithm and the required codes for calling SAP2000 is coded in MATLAB. At the end of the study, the total weight of the stay-cables was reduced more than 40% according to existing stay cables under loads taken into account.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.291-311
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• 2012

The multi-span suspension bridge having double main cables in the vertical plane is investigated regarding endurance of live load distribution in the case of non-displaced pylon and pylon displacement. The coefficient formula of live load distribution described as the ratio of live load on the bottom cable to the top cable is obtained. Based on this formula, some function in respect of this bridge are derived and used to analyze its characteristics. This analysis targets the cable force, the cable sag and the horizontal displacement at the pylon top under live load etc. The results clarified that the performance of the live load distribution and the horizontal force of cables in the case of non-deformed pylon has a similar tendency to those in the case of deformed pylon, and the increase of pylon rigidity can increase live load distributed to the bottom cable and slightly raise the cable horizontal force under live load. However, effect on the vertical rigidity of bridge and the horizontal force increment of cables caused by live load is different in the case of non-deformed pylon and deformed pylon.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.90 no.2
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• pp.159-175
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• 2024

In order to solve the problem of calculating the reasonable completed bridge state of a self-anchored hybrid cable-stayed suspension bridge (SA-HCSB), this paper proposes an analytical method. This method simplifies the main beam into a continuous beam with multi-point rigid supports and solves the support reaction forces. According to the segmented catenary theory, it simultaneously solves the horizontal forces of the main span main cables and the stay cables and iteratively calculates the equilibrium force system on the main beam in the collaborative system bridge state while completing the shape finding of the main span main cable and stay cables. Then, the horizontal forces of the side span main cables and stay cables are obtained based on the balance of horizontal forces on the bridge towers, and the shape finding of the side spans are completed according to the segmented catenary theory. Next, the difference between the support reaction forces of the continuous beam with multiple rigid supports obtained from the initial and final iterations is used to calculate the load of ballast on the side span main beam. Finally, the axial forces and strains of each segment of the main beam and bridge tower are obtained based on the loads applied by the main cable and stay cables on the main beam and bridge tower, thereby obtaining analytical data for the bridge in the reasonable completed state. In this paper, the rationality and effectiveness of this analytical method are verified through a case study of a SA-HCSB with a main span of 720m in finite element analysis. At the same time, it is also verified that the equilibrium force of the main beam under the reasonably completed bridge state can be obtained through iterative calculation. The analytical algorithm in this paper has clear physical significance, strong applicability, and high accuracy of calculation results, enriching the shape-finding method of this bridge type.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.253-273
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• 2016

Ice accretions on stay cables may result in the instable vibration of galloping, which would affect the safety of cable-stayed bridges. A large number of studies have investigated the galloping vibrations of transmission lines. However, the obtained aerodynamics in transmission lines cannot be directly applied to the stay cables on cable-stayed bridges. In this study, linear and nonlinear single degree-of-freedom models were introduced to obtain the critical galloping wind velocity of iced stay cables where the aerodynamic lift and drag coefficients were identified in the wind tunnel tests. Specifically, six ice shapes were discussed using section models with geometric scale 1:1. The results presented obvious sudden decrease regions of the aerodynamic lift coefficient for all six test models. Numerical analyses of iced stay cables associated to a medium-span cable-stayed bridge were carried out to evaluate the potential galloping instability. The obtained nonlinear critical wind velocity for a 243-meter-long stay cable is much lower than the design wind velocity. The calculated linear critical wind velocity is even lower. In addition, numerical analyses demonstrated that increasing structural damping could effectively mitigate the galloping vibrations of iced stay cables.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.47-67
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• 2014

This study has been motivated to examine the performance of a wireless sensor system under the typhoons as well as to analyze the effect of the typhoons on the bridge's vibration responses and the variation of cable forces. During the long-term field experiment on a real cable-stayed bridge in years 2011-2012, the bridge had experienced two consecutive typhoons, Bolaven and Tembin, and the wireless sensor system had recorded data of wind speeds and vibration responses from a few survived sensor nodes. In this paper, the wireless structural health monitoring of stay cables under the two consecutive typhoons is presented. Firstly, the wireless monitoring system for cable-stayed bridge is described. Multi-scale vibration sensor nodes are utilized to measure both acceleration and PZT dynamic strain from stay cables. Also, cable forces are estimated by a tension force monitoring software based on vibration properties. Secondly, the cable-stayed bridge with the wireless monitoring system is described and its wireless monitoring capacities for deck and cables are evaluated. Finally, the structural health monitoring of stay cables under the attack of the two typhoons is described. Wind-induced deck vibration, cable vibration and cable force variation are examined based on the field measurements in the cable-stayed bridge under the two consecutive typhoons.

• 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.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.249-261
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• 2013

Flexible stay cables on cable-stayed bridges are three-dimensional. They sag and flex in the complex wind environment, which is a different situation to ideal rigid cylinders in two-dimensional wind flow. Aerodynamic interference and the response characteristics of wake galloping of full-scale parallel cables are potentially different due to three-dimensional flows around cables. This study presents a comprehensive wind tunnel investigation of wake galloping of parallel stay cables using three-dimensional aeroelastic cable models. The wind tunnel study focuses on the large spacing instability range, addressing the effects of cable separation, wind yaw angle, and wind angle of attack on wake galloping response. To investigate the effectiveness of vibration suppression measures, wind tunnel studies on the transversely connected cable systems for two types of connections (flexibility and rigidity) at two positions (mid-span and quarter-span) were also conducted. This experimental study provides useful insights for better understanding the characteristics of wake galloping that will help in establishing a guideline for the wind-resistant design of the cable system on cable-stayed bridges.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.567-579
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• 2008

To gain understanding of the applicability of CFRP cables in super long-span cable-stayed bridges, by taking a 1400 m cable-stayed bridge as example, mechanics performance including the static behavior under service load, dynamic behavior, wind stability and seismic behavior of the bridge using either steel or CFRP cables are investigated numerically and compared. The results show that viewed from the aspect of mechanics performance, the use of CFRP cables in super long-span cable-stayed bridges is feasible, and the cross-sectional areas of CFRP cables should be determined by the principle of equivalent axial stiffness.