Cable Structure
Cable Structure
CABLE STRUCTURE
Cables are often used for support and to transmit load from one member to another.
When used to support suspension bridges the cables form the main load carrying
element in the structure.
Cable structure is a form of long-span structure that is subject to tension and uses
suspension cables for support. Highly efficient, cable structures include the suspension
bridge, the cable-stayed roof etc.
Being inextensible the cable has constant length before and after the load is applied. As
a result, once the load is applied the geometry of cable remains fixed.
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck (the load-bearing portion) is
hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders.
This type of bridge has cables suspended between towers, with vertical suspender
cables that transfer the live and dead loads of the deck below, upon which traffic
crosses. This arrangement allows the deck to be level or to arc upward for additional
clearance. Like other suspension bridge types, this type often is constructed without
falsework.
The main type of force in a suspension bridge are tension in cables and compression in
the pillars.
A cable-stayed bridge has one or more towers (or pylons), from which cables support
the bridge deck. In the cable-stayed bridge, the towers are the primary load-bearing
structures which transmit the bridge loads to the ground.
A cantilever
approach is often used to support the bridge deck near the towers, but lengths further
from them are supported by cables running directly to the towers.
The cables pull to the sides as opposed to directly up, requiring the bridge deck to be
stronger to resist the resulting horizontal compression loads; but has the advantage of
not requiring firm anchorages to resist the horizontal pull of the main cables of the
suspension bridge.
By design all static horizontal forces of the cable-stayed bridge are balanced so that the
supporting towers do not tend to tilt or slide, needing only to resist horizontal forces from
the live loads.
1- mono
2- harp
3- fan, and
4- star
1. Mono design
The mono design uses a single cable from its towers and is one of the lesser-used examples of
the class.
2. Harp design
In the harp or parallel design, the cables are nearly parallel so that the height of their
attachment to the tower is proportional to the distance from the tower to their mounting on
the deck.
3. Fan design
In the fan design, the cables all connect to or pass over the top of the towers. The fan design is
structurally superior with a minimum moment applied to the towers, but, for practical reasons,
the modified fan (also called the semi-fan) is preferred, especially where many cables are
necessary.
4. Star design
In the star design, another relatively rare design, the cables are spaced apart on the tower, like
the harp design, but connect to one point or a number of closely spaced points on the deck.
1) Suspended bridges
2) Suspended roof
3) Pedestrian walkways
• Applications include stay cables or hangers for pedestrian walkways, tied-arch-bridges
and other cabled structures.
• Cable stays or hangers are made using parallel strands with low relaxation or, in some
cases, using high strength bars.
• In case of parallel strands systems, the complete bundle can be either prefabricated
on ground /in the warehouse and then lifted to its final position or each single element
can thread one by one.
Cable-stayed bridges and suspension bridges may appear to be similar but are quite
different in principle and in their construction.
In suspension bridges, large main cables (normally two) hang between the towers and
are anchored at each end to the ground. The main cables, which are free to move on
bearings in the towers, bear the load of the bridge deck. Before the deck is installed, the
cables are under tension from their own weight.
Along the main cables smaller cables or rods connect to the bridge deck, which is lifted
in sections. As this is done, the tension in the cables increases, as it does with the live
load of traffic crossing the bridge. The tension on the main cables is transferred to the
ground at the anchorages and by downwards compression on the towers.
In cable-stayed bridges, the towers are the primary loadbearing structures that
transmit the bridge loads to the ground.
A cantilever approach is often used to support the bridge deck near the towers, but
lengths further from them are supported by cables running directly to the towers.
By design, all static horizontal forces of the cable-stayed bridge are balanced so that the
supporting towers do not tend to tilt or slide and so must only resist horizontal forces
from the live loads.