A cable-damper system for preventing wind-induced oscillations of suspension-bridge towers during erection

Abstract

With the increasing span length of suspension bridges, the development of an effective and reliable method for controlling the wind-induced large-amplitude oscillations of the towers of such bridges in the free-standing stage during erection has become increasingly important and indispensable. With this in view, several types of so-called “cable—damper” system have been studied analytically, incorporating the results obtained from wind-tunnel tests conducted previously. In these studies, emphasis is placed on the dynamic characretistics of the cable—damper system. It is found that a cable stay arrangement, comprised of main-stays stretching from the tower top and branch-stays having a counterweight block and an oil-damper attached to their lower end, is exceedingly effective.