Influence of Construction Method on the Behaviour of Suspension Bridges with Main Rigid Cables

Abstract

The suspension bridges are inherently flexible structures and in majority of cases stiffening measures must be incorporated in the design. To give the suspension bridge a more stable appearance, authors proposed to use the main cables of varying bending stiffness. The rigid main cable consists of prefabricated erection segments made of standard steel profiles or have composite sections. One of the main parameter affecting the suspension bridge behaviour is the erection method for main rigid cables. Two scenarios are analysed. Simplified behaviour analysis method and FE modelling for suspension bridges with rigid cables under the action of symmetrical and asymmetrical loadings by considering two scenarios of bridge construction is presented.