Ultimate Load Capacity of Cable-Stayed Bridges

Abstract

This paper presents an energy method of analysis for the in-plane ultimate load capacity of cable-stayed bridges. The potential energy of the whole bridge, including bridge deck, stayed cables, and pylons, and the work done by external loads are considered in the development of the bridge energy equation. Both geometric and material nonlinearities are taken into account in the analysis. The method is simple to use and has a high convergence rate. The predictions of the proposed method show good agreement with experimental results.