Vulnerability and Robustness of Corroded Large-Span Cable-Stayed Bridges under Marine Environment

Abstract

AbstractThe vulnerability and robustness of in-service cable-stayed bridges under a marine atmospheric environment is studied based on several specific considerations in modeling corrosion-induced damage in cables. With the limited test data available, the corrosion model for cables exposed to marine environmental conditions is modified to reflect the coupled effect of cable in-service stress level with an assumed probability distribution of corrosion of steel wires along a cross section. To ideally capture the dynamic effect caused by corrosion-induced rupture, the complete sudden element removal strategy is simulated by using computer software developed by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center. In the assessment of bridge vulnerability, the stress transfer coefficient is introduced as well as normalized corrosive section area to reflect the major propagation of stress within adjacent cables. The so-called performance index combined with the definition of critical failed pairs of corr...