Technology

Nazim Nariman

Nonlinear structural design optimization

of cable stayed bridges

Scientific Study


Nonlinear Structural Design Optimization of Cable

Stayed Bridges

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7583237?tag=bridge

Acknowledgements

All praise is due to God (Allah) for granting me the power and faith to proceed with
this research work, and I pray that the Almighty accepts it purely.

Furthermore, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to Professor

Timon Rabczuk who was the reason beyond conducting an additional research work
beside my main PhD research study.

I dont forget to mention the role of the souls of my Mother, Father and dead family
members, in supporting me to struggle in this life till reaching the target.

Last but not least, I am grateful to my wife Hero, for her love, and kind support
during working on this research book. Also I would like to thank my sons Revan and
Avyar in supporting me to have the most comfortable times to involve in this process
until the end of publishing my second research book.

Nazim Abdul Nariman

2 October 2013

Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Abstract

In this research, many models of a cable stayed bridge were generated using
ABAQUS finite element commercial software for the purpose of proceeding with
nonlinear design optimization on the shape and topology of the structure. The cable
stayed bridge models in all cases are with a constant length and width for the deck,
also the pylons height under and above the deck is constant, but the shape of stay
cables arrangement varies to three main famous arrangements which are Fan, Semi
harp and Harp. In addition to change in the pylons shape which are three known
shapes Double out, Single Center and Single inclined out, and it is worthy to mention
that in all cases of the shape optimization of the pylons , the stay cables arrangements
are Fan style, and by governing computational nonlinear optimization process on the
finite element models in all cases of shape and topology optimization through using
static general step for analysis and a certain meshing type with global seeding size for
the Beam elements, with a fixed and pinned boundary conditions for the deck
supports and fixed boundary for the pylons. Concentrated static loads assigned on the
same positions on the deck for all models cases. .

A numerical optimization and graphical simulation of the results were used to

determine many responses in the model cases which are Reactions, Deflections and
Mises stresses in the structural models of the cable stayed bridge, especially at the
deck, pylons and the stay cables which are the main components of the structure, also
the same step in the deck and pylons supports has been done for optimization outputs.

It is apparent and clear that the cable stayed model with the Fan arrangement of the
stay cables showed efficiency and the best topological model case for the structural
design optimization that involved a safe, robust, rigid, and safe for the design of cable
stayed bridges. .

The pylon shape with double out case was the best design situation compared with
the other two models single center and single inclined out shapes, this point was
obvious in the reactions, deflections and Mises stresses for the deck supports and the
deck itself, and as a result the Double out with a Fan shape arrangement of the cable
stays is the best model for the design of cable stayed bridges to resist the static loads.

Contents
Title Page.1

Acknowledgements3

Abstract.4

Contents5

List of Tables.9

List of Figures.10

Chapter 1

1.1 Introduction..14

1.2 Literature Review17

1.3 Objective..18

1.4 Optimal Design of Cable-Stayed Bridges.18

1.5 Structural Design Optimization..21

1.6 Optimization Techniques.21

1.7 Load Factor Optimization22

1.8 Cable Stayed Bridge Structural Concept..23

Chapter 2

2.1 Cable Stayed Bridge Components25

2.1.1 Deck...25

2.1.2 Pylon..26
2.1.3 Stay Cables26

2.2 Stay cables types26

2.2.1 Locked coil stays..26

2.2.2 Helical or spiral strand stays...27

2.2.3 Bar bundles28

2.2.4 Parallel wire strand stays.28

2.2.5 New parallel wire strand stays...28

2.2.6 Parallel strand stays...29

2.2.7 Advanced composite stays...30

2.3 Stay cable arrangement...31

2.3.1 Fan arrangement.31

2.3.2 Semi-harp arrangement31

2.3.3 Harp arrangement..32

2.4 Modeling the Stay Cables..33

2.5 Modeling the Pylon and Deck..34

2.5.1 Pylon34

2.5.2 Deck..36

2.5.3 Dampers..39

Chapter 3

3.1 Finite Element Models of the Cable Stayed Bridge...41

3.1.1 General Static Analysis...48

3.1.2 Boundary Conditions of the model48

3.1.3 Load Assignation..49

3.1.4 Seeding and Meshing Step50

Chapter 4

4.1 Analysis of the Results...51

4.1.1 Pylons Support Analysis..51

4.1.2 Pylons Support Reactions Analysis52

4.1.3 Pylons Support S.Mises Stresses Analysis..52

4.2 Deck support Analysis..53

4.2.1 Deck support Reaction Analysis54

4.2.2 Deck supports S.Mises Stress Analysis54

4.3 Pylons Analysis55

4.3.1 Pylons Deflection Analysis...58

4.3.2 Pylons S.Mises Analysis60

4.4 Deck Analysis...62

4.4.1 Deck Deflection Analysis..63

4.4.2 Deck S.Mises Analysis...65

4.5 Stay Cables Analysis.67

4.5.1 Stay Cables Deflection Analysis73

4.5.2 Stay Cables S.Mises Stresses Analysis78

4.6 Deck Support Analysis (Pylon Shape Effect).83

4.6.1 Deck Support Reaction Analysis (Pylon Shape Effect)...85

4.6.2 Deck Support S.Mises Analysis (Pylon Shape Effect).86

4.6.3 Deck Deflection Analysis (Pylon Shape Effect) for the Left Deck..86

4.6.4 S.Mises Analysis (Pylon Shape Effect) for the Left Deck87

4.6.5 Deck Deflection Analysis (Pylon Shape Effect) for the Deck Center..87

4.6.6 Deck S.Mises Analysis (Pylon Shape Effect) for the Deck Center...88

4.6.7 Deck Deflection Analysis (Pylon Shape Effect) for the Right Deck88

4.6.8 Deck S.Mises Analysis (Pylon Shape Effect) for the Right Deck.89