Structural Analysis of the Cantilever Construction Process in Cable-Stayed Bridges

Abstract

This work deals with the analysis of cable-stayed bridges at different erection stages during construction, assuming the full or the partial cantilever method and performing multiple finite element computational procedure. The forward process and the backward process analysis are investigated and compared: the former is performed by following the sequence of erection stages in bridge construction and the latter is carried out in the reverse direction of erection procedures. The required pretension in cable-stays and the corresponding structural configurations of the bridge at different erection stages have been examined and compared in details, also by comparing either the linear computation procedure or the nonlinear computation procedure. Numerical, analytical and construction process results are presented, compared and commented upon.