Partially Earth-Anchored Cable Bridge: Ultralong-Span System Suitable for Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Cables

Abstract

As a new high-strength material, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) cable provided an opportunity for bridge structures to achieve span limits that were not possible or economical in the past. Based on existing conceptual studies on ultralong-span bridges using CFRP, a new partially earth-anchored cable bridge (PEAC bridge) system was proposed in this study. The PEAC bridge system addresses existing challenges of applying CFRP to traditional suspension and cable-stayed bridge systems, while maintaining large spanning capacity. Through a detailed comparative study on traditional and proposed long-span systems, the performance of a PEAC bridge under static and dynamic loading was evaluated. The span limit of the PEAC bridge system was calculated based on the strength of material and cost considerations.