Performance of Cable-Stayed Bridges: Evaluation Methods, Observations, and a Rehabilitation Case
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 30, Issue 1
Abstract
This paper discusses advances in evaluation, health monitoring, and rehabilitation of cable-stayed bridges, and available methods. In the last 2 decades, the writer has contributed extensively to advances in cable-stayed bridge construction, design, and health monitoring. Information gathered from evaluation of the strength and reliability of dozens of stay cable systems worldwide, and health monitoring and inspection of more than 12 cable-stayed bridges in the United States and abroad, have discovered problem conditions that seem to be consistent across many types of cable-stayed bridges and stay cable designs, and have helped toward formation and evolvement of a unified approach for in-service evaluation and problem solving of these aesthetic structures. A case study related to evaluation and rehabilitation of the Luling Bridge in Louisiana, for which the new approach has been implemented almost entirely, is also described. The bridge evaluation process, and cable replacement design and its implementation, contain unique aspects and are the first attempted in North America. The cable replacement design accommodated an extraordinary construction sequence to address constraints on space and traffic flow. Temporary cables minimized stress variation and allowed for the live load without restriction. The new cable system allows individual strand installation and tensioning, and is expected to facilitate future inspections and replacement.
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Acknowledgments
The unified approach for evaluation of cable-stayed bridges, and inspection results and observations described in this paper, are based on nearly 2 decades of research and evaluation work by the writer. For the case of Luling Bridge inspection and rehabilitation, the project team included FHWA through their Louisiana Office, LADOTD, with Mr. Paul Fossier as the Project Manager, Armin Mehrabi of Bridge Engineering Solutions as the project manager for inspection through rehabilitation design and the resident engineer for construction support services, International Bridge Technologies as the design subconsultant and prime consultant for construction support services, and Kiewit Louisiana as the construction prime contractor. The opinions expressed in this paper, however, are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the positions of others.
References
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Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 30 • Issue 1 • February 2016
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 27, 2014
Accepted: Oct 23, 2014
Published online: Dec 1, 2014
Discussion open until: May 1, 2015
Published in print: Feb 1, 2016
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