Estimation of Error Factors in Concrete Cable-Stayed Structures with Sensitivity of Creep

Abstract

This study proposes a method for estimating the properties of concrete creep and the unstrained length of cable, by using measured displacements and cable tension forces, in a concrete cable-stayed structure over time. The method is proposed on the basis of minimizing the differences between the actual measured responses of the structure and the predicted values that were calculated by using finite element analysis. The creep model uncertainty factor was introduced to characterize the incompleteness or inadequacy of the deterministic formulas of a given model. This factor was selected as the sole parameter to be estimated from the parameters relevant to the creep model. The numerical examples used in this analysis revealed good feasibility of this methodology for parameter estimation. These examples also supported the importance of considering concrete creep properties as a structural error factor in concrete cable-stayed structures. The estimated concrete creep properties may be used to reduce the long-term error associated with concrete creep in concrete cable-stayed structures.