Development of corrosion-fatigue analysis method of cable hangers in tied-arch bridges considering train-bridge interaction

Abstract

This study proposes an integrated corrosion-fatigue analysis method for bridge hangers by combining the dynamic bridge-train interaction analysis for random train arrivals with various speeds and the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM)-based crack propagation analysis considering the corrosion-fatigue effects. Accordingly, a three-stage process, namely, zinc coating corrosion, pit-crack transition, and corrosion-fatigue crack propagation for wires in hangers, was proposed to simulate the total service life. A train-bridge-interaction analysis was conducted on a tied-arch bridge with multiple cable hangers using the vector form intrinsic finite element method, where the stresses in the hangers were generated under high-speed train loads. The pit-crack transition was analyzed based on the pit growth and fatigue growth; whose rates compete to dominate the transition phenomenon. The fatigue crack growth rate was estimated using a LEFM approach considering the equivalent stress ranges and number of stress cycles. The effects of reducing the cable cross-section and updating the internal stress of the multi-layered wires were investigated. The present method was compared with the continuum damage mechanics model for validation. A relatively short remaining corrosion-fatigue life was found in the cables under the train loads, after corrosion of the zinc coating and pit-crack transition in the steel wires were developed.