Cable structure design of suspension bridges through strand reduction method

Abstract

AbstractCable structures hold a special place for the cost of suspension bridges. Considerable development of the structural cable material leads to design and construction of long‐span suspension bridges. Thus, designing cable structures that are cost‐effective and reliable is significant for these mega structures. The overall layout of a main cable is consistent with constant number of elements per span since the design of the first suspension bridge. However, the reduction of main cable area in regard to design loads could play an important role in saving cost of long span suspension bridges. This paper presents the strand reduction approach for the cable structure design of suspension bridges. The proposed approach has been implemented by releasing the required number of parallel wire strands in main cable of the suspension bridge at specific locations in accordance with axial loads on main and hanger cables where released strands are transformed into a hanger cable with special types of clamps. The strand reduction approach is named as “saddle‐clamp system” and has been compared with the current design of 1915 Canakkale Bridge. The results indicate that the strand reduction method provides 7.6% to 34.1% material quantity deduction for the cable structures of the suspension bridge.