Alternative Structural Configurations

A bridge is a group of structures providing continuity across an

entire crossing
A bridge alternative is a configuration of superstructure &
substructure units making up the physical definition of a
Alternative Structural bridge

Configurations & Systems Designer can introduce more than one mutually-exclusive
bridge alternative for the same bridge, a feature useful for
comparing design alternatives
For example, a two-span bridge can be compared to a one-
span bridge for the same crossing
Each mutually-exclusive alternative configuration for a bridge
is called a Bridge Alternative

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

Alternative Structural Configurations

Example:
Usage of two
different
configurations
with in a
single crossing

Some special structural configuration types will be discussed here

Ex. Cable-stayed bridges, Suspension bridges

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
 Cable Stayed Bridges
Cables are attached to the towers, which alone bear the
load
Appropriate for medium span bridges (500 to 2800ft)
Requires less cable then a suspension bridge

Cable-Stayed Bridges Can be constructed out of identical pre-cast concrete or

steel deck sections
Are faster to build
Cable-stayed bridges look futuristic, but the idea for them
goes back a long way. First sketch appeared in 1595

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

Two Major Classes of Cable-Stayed Bridges

Stability Condition Different based on how the cables are attached to the pillars

Parallel attachment: cables are made nearly parallel by having the height
of attachment on the pillar be similar to the
To prevent sideways & vertical movements of the distance from the pillar along the roadway
tower/pylon & deck under asymmetrical live loading Radial attachment: cables connect to or pass over the top of the pillar
Possible to maintain stability of the whole structure by
resisting only the horizontal & vertical components of the
forces generated

These distances
are equal

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
 Parallel & Radial Cable attachments Tension & Compression Important!
The tower is responsible for
absorbing & dealing with
compression forces Tension
Tension occurs along the cable lines
A moving load is not applied evenly
across the bridge, & as it moves one
set or the other of the diagonals
will find itself in tension
Compression

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

In this bridge, the

distance of the cable up Transverse Arrangement of Cables
the tower is equal to the
Triangles are one of the distance from the tower
shapes used by the to connection point on Cables are usually either
attachment of the cables the beam and is a 900 arranged in a single-plane or
& the beam angle two-plane system
This shape is used
because of its ability to Single-plane is commonly
transfer the tension as the employed with a divided road
moving load goes across deck, & requires only a narrow
the bridge pylon & pier
In the two-plane system the
Triangulated bracing between cables cable can either be arranged to
reduces the amplitude of oscillations hang vertically or slope towards
the top of the tower or pylon
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
 The Pylon
May be fabricated from Examples
steel plate,
precast concrete elements
occasionally in in-situ concrete

Various design options are available

to produce good aesthetic effects

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

The Deck Type of Cables

Generally has a hollow box cross section
Provides torsional resistance across the deck width Polyethylene duct

May be assembled in precast concrete elements, steel plate or Protective grout

girders, or made in in-situ concrete

Prestressing wire
The Cable Parallel wires

Similar to that used for normal pre-stressing work S- section wires Polyethylene duct

May comprise of: multi-strand cable made up of Trapezoidal section wires Cement grout

cold drawn wires or single strand cable (mono- Round wire

Spacer
strand cable) consisting of parallel wires
Strand
Diameters in the range 40-125 mm are typical
Protection against corrosion is a major concern Locked Cables Strands

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

 The Connection
Type of Cables Usually the cable has a pin type joint to the Pylon
Have either swaged or filled sockets
Main tensile elements made out of High The deck-to-cable connection is usually of the 'free' type to
tensile pre-stressing steel & standardized accommodate adjustment
structural steel for anchorages
Cable Anchorages in Pylon are usually expensive
Zink or other corrosion protective coating
on -stressing steel & structural steel
components
High density polyethylene protective
cover
Filling material such as wax & grease for
protection of free length & anchorages

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

Cable Anchorages Special Consideration on

Stay Cables & Anchorages Design
Durability
Wide size range
Easiness of Installation
Unitary Stressing(Strand by Strand)
Bottom Anchorage Upper Anchorage
Adjustable anchorages for full stay stressing or distressing
Force checking or monitoring at any time
Replacement of stay as a whole or strand by strand
individually
Anchorage
head Ability to damper Installation
Longer Fatigue Life(2 million cycles)

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
 Methods of Erection

Methods of Erection
Various methods in practice include:
Erect on temporary props
Free cantilever with progressive placing
Balanced cantilever
Push-out

Method of erection is influenced by:

The stiffness of the pylon cable anchorage system
Viability of installing temporary supports
Maximum unsupported spans permitted by the design
Case of transporting materials

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

Basic Modeling Issues

Modeling of Cables
Consider the Nonlinearity due to profile &
material
Consider the Pre-Tension & multiple
stressing
Consider the Partial Fixity at Anchors
Modeling of Deck
The extent of deck model & level of detail
Global Model & Local Models
Modeling of Pylons
Modeling the Flexibility & Stability
Partial construction loading & unbalanced
conditions
Modeling of Expansion Joint
Accommodating Large Moments
Transfer of large forces
Modeling of Foundations
Foundations are often under water
Very large loads & moments
Modeling Water waves, collision etc.
Basic Loads
The Dead load of deck is primary loading
Lateral loads due wind
Aero elastic loading due to wind
Resonance, Flutter, Vortex shedding
Seismic load & amplification
Expansion due temperature change
Cable elongation effects
Traffic/ Truck load is less important
Generally uniformly distributed load is considered

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
 Suspension Bridges

Suspension Bridges

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

Suspension Bridges
Suited to spans exceeding 500 m, can span distances from 2,000 to 7,000 ft
Comprise of cables slung over two towers
Suspension Bridge Wobble
Cable ends are usually earth anchored
Girder generally has fixed hinges at the piers & movable ones at the towers
Apart from the towers, all the highly stressed parts of a suspension bridge are in
tension
A suspension bridge suspends the roadway from huge main cables, which
extend from one end of the bridge to the other
These cables rest on top of towers & are secured at each end by anchorages
Aesthetic, light & strong
Can span distances far longer than any other kind of bridge
The most expensive bridges to build

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
 The Tower
The Tower
The towers are the struts for the suspension bridge. They receive
all of the compressive forces
These members have to be thick enough to resist buckling,
flexure, & oscillation
They have to withstand minor changes as a result of live loads &
temperature changes
The main job of the towers is to withstand the forces that are
exerted on it by the cables
Depends upon the height & mode of erection & may be:
shop-fabricated in steel as complete units
Made up from cellular or box girder sections
In situ concrete either cast lift-by-lift or slip-formed

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

Hangers
Cable Clamped directly to the suspension cable with tightly bolted bands
The main cable wrapping only extends up to the bands as these
All of the tension forces in the bridge is
are fixed prior to the wrapping operation
transferred to the main cable through the
suspenders
The cables need to allow vibration & be
resistant to corrosion
Generally span in place from individual
galvanized wires, or positioned similar to the
method used for cable-stayed bridges
The wire or stands are compacted together &
then bound in galvanized wire & coated with
weather- resistant paint to aid corrosion
protection
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
 Deck Unit
The deck needs to be rigid to prevent any dipping as live loads Anchorages
pass, yet it needs to be as light as possible
The deck is a major factor in calculating the dead load & tension Fundamental to the stability of a
in the main cable suspension bridge
Two types of deck system are used for suspension bridges:
The anchorages pull the side spans to the
Trussed girders & Steel box sections ground & fixes them in place
The anchors must be able to hold down
the cable with its weight or by transferring
the tension in the ropes to the ground
There are commonly three types:
Rock anchors
Tunnel anchorage
Gravity anchorage

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

Anchorages
The moment of the weight of the anchor must be greater
than that coming from the tension in the cable
Saddles
The saddle at the top of each tower & the splay saddles are cast
in steel & grooved, stepped & divided with steel spacers to aid
wire location during spinning
A cover plate is provided for protection against corrosion
The whole unit is bolted down to resist movement

In other words, you want your anchor to be heavy enough to hold

down the cables, regardless of what type of anchor you decided to use
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
 Erection Methods Cable Profile & Forces
Step 2: Erection of Towers

Parabolic cable profile is used in Suspension Bridges

Step 1: Foundation & Anchorage
The only force that cable can transmit is Tension along the axis of
the cable
y
y
s
Step 3:
Step 4:
s
Cable Erection
Deck Unit Erection x x
(0,0)
L

Most common systems for the deck placing sequences are:

Start erection from centre of main span Considering the equilibrium of the infinitesimal segment of the
Start erection from the towers cable under tension with vertical downward loading;
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

y 3
W per unit length
From eq. 2
Neglect :because 2nd
x dx For small angles order term
1
2

Expanding Eq. 1
4
For very small angles
Equation 4 states that the rate of change of Horizontal Force is Zero;
Neglect: because that means the horizontal force is constant.
2nd order term
T sin T cos d dT sin cos d dT T sin wdx 0
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
 H V L/ L/
V H
Let us say that the Horizontal Force is H Integrating the above equation
2 2
Therefore from Eq. 4 5 y s=sag

x
Substituting Eq. 5 in Eq. 3
H dy
d( sin ) wdx
cos At the origin 0 and therefore
dx

Integrating ; 6 ; or 7

From the above figure at

Substituting in Eq.7 Substituting for H in Eq. 6

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

Length of Curved Cable

T
V V
H L/ L/ H wx From the L
2 2 x triangle
y s=sag
H
x H x/2 h
wx c
V=0
But L
Because the cable is 2 1
horizontal there is no dy 2 2
c 2 ( (1 ( ) ) dx
Vertical component dx
0

at the support where

but

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
 Basic Modeling Issues
Modeling of Cables
Consider the Nonlinearity due
to profile & material
Modeling of Saddles &
Anchors
Modeling of Deck
The extent of deck model &
level of detail
Global Model & Local Models
Modeling of Hangers
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
Basic Loads
Modeling of Pylons
The Dead load of deck is primary loading
Modeling the Flexibility & Stability
Partial construction loading & unbalanced Aero elastic loading due to wind
conditions
Resonance, Flutter, Vortex shedding
Modeling of Expansion Joint
Seismic load & amplification
Accommodating Large Moments
Transfer of large forces Expansion due temperature change
Modeling of Foundations Cable elongation effects
Foundations are often under water
Traffic/ Truck load is less important
Very large loads & moments
Modeling Water waves, collision etc. Generally uniformly distributed load is considered
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA