Study on tension control method of anchor span for three tower suspension bridge

Abstract

The traditional method of adjusting cable force doesn't effectively address the coupling relationship between the splay saddle's deflection angle and the anchor span's tension. To safely and efficiently adjust the tension of the anchor span and the deflection angle of the splay saddle on suspension bridges, this study examines the effects of temperature variations and side span sag deviation on the splay saddle's deflection angle, considering the rotation stiffness of the splay saddle. On this basis, combined with the engineering practice of a three-tower suspension bridge, a simplified method of cable force adjustment considering the rotation effect of the splay saddle is proposed. Practical results indicate that temperature fluctuations are the primary cause of splay saddle deflection. A relationship has been derived between temperature changes, side span sag deviation, and the deflection angle of the splay saddle. This relationship has been validated for its accuracy and correctness in real-world engineering scenarios. The introduced simplified method for adjusting anchor span tension can notably decrease the number of required adjustments, offers precise cable tensioning, and effectively prevents cable strand slippage. This method is advantageous due to its straightforward application, time-saving nature, and enhanced safety.