Experimental and numerical study on a novel cable anchorage system to improve the maintainability of suspension bridges

Abstract

In suspension bridges, cable anchorage systems are critical structures for cable tension transmission. Owing to the tedious maintenance and replacement process, it is difficult to reduce maintenance costs and traffic impacts for conventional anchorage systems. To solve this problem, this paper presents the development of a novel prestressed anchorage system used in the Nansha Bridge. The novel anchorage system employs finite bundles of cluster cables with multiple anticorrosive coatings, enabling monitorability and durability and efficient replaceability without traffic interruption. A replaceability model test is performed to reveal the mutual interference characteristics of cluster cable tension and verify the replacement efficiency. Graded load tests are carried out on three specimens to investigate the stress distribution and load-carrying performance. Through elaborate 3D finite element analysis, the mechanical behaviour and stress diffusion characteristics of the crucial components under the anchors are further studied under three extreme scenarios. The results show that the novel anchorage system is reliable with a sufficient safety margin and uniform stress distribution and that the replacement process is efficient without incurring traffic interruption.