Analysis and sequence for the cable design and construction in steel arch bridges: lesson learned from Taipei chung-cheng bridge reconstruction project

Abstract

ABSTRACT The girder, the arch rib and the cables are the three main components of an arch bridge. The girder bears the vertical load of road and bridge’s own weight, and these vertical loads are transmitted through the cables to the bridge’s arch. Together, these three components create the structural balance of an arch bridge. The forces exerted on the cables are crucial in the design of steel arch bridges, making the precise configuration and distribution of the cables essential. Cable stretching methods varies between site conditions and structure type. The cable force ratio iteration method was adopted in the reconstruction of Chung-Cheng Bridge to solve the cable force calculations. The iterative process of the cable force analysis at each stage ensures the cable force align with the original design consideration while also factoring in bridge deck elevation and road smoothness. It was successfully applied during the installation and the tensioning of the steel cables. The Chung-Cheng bridge has since been completed and opened to traffic, and the method was proved to be feasible and accuracy were validated, providing a valuable reference for subsequent cable tension control.