Vehicle-Induced Response of Long-Span Suspension Bridges with Steel and Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Cables and Suspenders

摘要

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) exhibits lightweight, high tensile strength and superior corrosion resistance; thus, it is recognized as an optimum substitute for steel as cables or suspenders in bridge engineering. In this study, the cables and suspenders of the Siduhe Bridge have been replaced with CFRP material based on area equivalent method. The vehicle-induced response of bridges with two types of cables and suspenders are studied using a verified finite element model. The observed results show that the dynamic responses of bridges do not always increase with vehicle speed but with speed range. In addition, the dynamic responses of bridge with CFRP cables and suspenders are larger than those of bridge with steel cables and suspenders. Moreover, bridge with CFRP cables and suspenders is more susceptible to the change in vehicle speed than bridge with steel cables and suspenders. Furthermore, the dynamic impact factors of long-span suspension bridge vary due to different bridge components. The influence of cable and suspender materials on the dynamic impact factor is complex and irregular.