Funicular Bridges

Journal of Fixed Point Theory and Applications, 2014

Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 2010

One of the main problems related to the design of suspension bridges is stabilisation of their initial form. The tendency of suspension bridges to deform is generally determined by the kinematical displacements of the suspension cable caused by asymmetrical loads rather than by the elastic deformations. There are some suspension bridges when the so‐called rigid (stiff in bending) cables instead of usual flexible cables are suggested for stabilisation of their initial form. The analysis methods of such suspension bridges with rigid cables are underdeveloped. For the analysis of classical suspension bridges analytical models can be applied. However, in case of concentrated forces, the numerical techniques are preferred. The article presents analytical expressions for the calculation of internal forces and displacements of suspension bridges with a rigid cable. The article also discusses the discrete calculation model for classical suspension bridges. Santrauka Viena iš pagrindiniu kab...

1995

Discretization methods are widely used in the analysis and design of suspension bridges. However, the large number of variables involved do not normally allow examination of the influence of different parameters on the behavior of suspension bridges. This paper presents a numerical method of analysis of suspended cables under vertical loads. Both explicit equilibrium and tangent stiffness matrices are derived by the finite element method. The expressions are also presented in dimensionless form, so that parametric studies can be performed. The obtained matrices can be assembled easily in a general structural analysis computer program. The proposed method is applied to the simplified analysis of suspension bridges. Some dimensionless charts are given for a single span suspension bridge. These include displacement and bending moments under the position of a concentrated load, pseudoinfluence line of displacement and bending moments at the quarter of span, and maximum displacements and bending moments for an arbitrarily located distributed load. It is believed that these charts can be useful in the first phase of design of suspension bridges and can contribute to the understanding of suspension bridge behavior.

FES Journal of Engineering Sciences, 2006

In this research factors affecting the non-linearity of suspension bridges were studied. The fundamental parameters studied are the main and side span lengths, cable sag, tower height, cable x-section and the flexural rigidity of the stiffening girder .The effect of variation of each parameter on the cable tension and the girder moments is studied. A non-linear 2-dimensional mathematical model of a 3 span, continuous suspension bridge is considered . The solution is based on the second order deflection theory given in a computerized form. It has been found that the degree of effect of these parameters on the results of analysis in a descending order is: the main span length, side span length, cable sag, cable section and the stiffness of the bridge girder.

European Journal of Physics, 2000

International Journal of Emerging Research in Management and Technology

The concept of cable-stayed bridges dates back to the seventeenth century. Due to their aesthetic appearance, efficient utilization of material, and availability of new construction technologies, cable-stayed bridges have gained much popularity in the last few decades. After successful construction of the Sutong Bridge, a number of bridges of this type have been proposed and are under construction, which calls for extensive research work in this field. Nowadays, very long span cable-stayed bridges are being built and the ambition is to further increase the span length using shallower and slender girders. In order to achieve this, accurate procedures need to be developed which can lead to a thorough understanding and a realistic prediction of the bridge’s structural response under different load conditions.In the present study, an attempt has been made to analyze the seismic response of cable stayed bridges with single pylon and two equal side spans. This study has made an effort to ...

Bridge and Structural Engineer, 2022

The cables, deck, and pylons are the main load-bearing elements of the cable-stayed bridges. Before the beginning of modern cable-stayed bridges, several suspension bridges were built that had suspension cables, pylon, and stiffening deck as main load-bearing elements. A suspension bridge collapse at wheeling due to the wind made J A Roebling introduce inclined stays to resist the gale in his Brooklyn suspension bridge, leading the way to modern cable-stayed bridges. While narrating the evolution of the cable-stayed bridges up to the latest world-record-holding Russky Bridge in Russia, the paper attempts to provide some key information to conceive cable-stayed bridges based on literature by Fritz Leonhardt, Neils J Gimsing, Walter Podolny Jr and Michel Virloguex.

Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering, 2006

In the calculation of suspension bridges, the geometrically non-linear behaviour of the parabolic cable is the main problem. The linear methods of analysis suit only for small spans. A geometrically non-linear continual model is especially useful for classical loading cases – a uniformly distributed load on the whole or a half span. But the modern traffic models consist of concentrated and uniformly distributed loads. The discrete model of a suspension bridge allows us to apply all kinds of loads, such as distributed or concentrated ones. The simplest suspension bridge consists of a geometrically non-linear cable, connected by hangers with an elastic linear stiffening girder. Depending on the load case, the hangers may be unequally loaded; thus the cable may also be loaded by unequal concentrated forces. The assumptions of the discrete method described here are: linear elastic strain-stress dependence on the material and absence of horizontal displacements of hangers. Hangers elonga...

Suspension bridges are longest span structures, however, the major problem of those structures are its low lateral stiffness. The suspension cable is the major element of such bridges; moreover, it is the key of the analysis. The challenge in suspension cable analysis is the material and geometrical

Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering, 2008

The paper presents a summary of numerical analysis on static behaviour of suspension bridges with varying rigidity of cables. The primary purpose of this study was to compare suspension systems with flexible and rigid cables and to determine the influence of varying rigidity of cables on the response of bridge members under the action of uniformly distributed symmetrical and unsymmetrical static loading. The finite element analysis of a three-dimensional bridge model was performed. In the first model, the cable is modelled as TRUSS3D element, in the second model as BEAM3D element. In both models, the hangers and backstays are TRUSS3D elements and stiffening girder as BEAM3D element. It is shown that a suitable increase of main cable's bending stiffness can effectively reduce the displacements, internal forces and stresses of suspension systems. Recommendations for appropriate stiffness are given.