Some aspects of the design of stay cables

By Michel VIRLOGEUX

Honorary President FIP and fib

 Summary

1. Introduction
2. Drag forces on stay cables
3. Stay cable quality
4. Installation, tension and maintenance
5. Cable vibrations
6. Fire and lightnings
1. Introduction
1.1 Historical survey
1.2 Parallel wire systems
1.3 Parallel strand systems
2. Drag forces on stay cables
2.1 Drag coefficient
2.2 Importance of drag forces. Experience of
the Normandy Bridge
2.3 Conclusion on the importance of drag
forces
 1
Fd = ρU ² DCd
2
ρ =1,23kg / m 3
UD
Re =
v
v =15.10 −6
A duct of the Higashi-Kobr Bridge
The drag coefficients of the different ducts tested in 1991 for the Normandie Bridge by the CSTB
A recent pipe for a Freyssinet stay cable,
with the two imbricated helical filets

Drag coefficients of three HDPE pipes;

a typical cylinder, a cylinder equiped with
one helical filet and the last with two.
Drag coefficients measured on profiles with dimples (Kwork and Wong 2004)
Experience of the Normandy Bridge
Drag forces on the deck : proportional to the span
and depending of shapes.

Drag forces on the stay cables: proportional to

the square of the span.

Drag forces on the stay cables : proportional to

the diameter.

Capacity of the stay cables : proportional to the

square of the diameter.
3 – Stay cable quality
3.1 Corrosion protection.
3.2 Strenght and fatigue resistance.
3.3 Prefabrication against constitution in situ.
Corrosion protection.

Two complementary nested barriers

SETRA – fib – PTI

example : galvanisation
+ oil wax
+ HDP extrusion
No role for the external duct (or pipe)
Strength and fatigue resistance

Tests on wires and strands.

Tests on anchorage bending effects.
Anchorage by Wedges
Prefabrication against construction in situ
4. Installation, tension and maintenance
4.1 Prefabricated stay cables.

A large coil transported an a truck

Two examples of heavy cranes used for lifting
the coil and installing the stay cable.
The installation of a long
stay cable at the lower
anchorage of the Tatara
Bridge
Stay cables constitued in situ
The example of the Normandie Bridge
Maintenance
Conclusion
5. Cable vibrations

5.1 Statics of stay cables

5.1 Dynamics of stay cables
5.3 Internal and aerodynamic damping
5.4 Different types of cable vibrations
5.5 Countermeasures.
 mgL ²
f =
8F
 2L m
Tk =
k F
Damping of stay cables

• Internal damping (ratio to critical)

Injection with cement grout : 0.01 %
Lock-coil cable : 0.1 %
Parallel individually protected strands : 0.1 to
0.15%
Parallel strands injected with oil wax : 0.15 %

• Aerodynamic damping
ρUDCd Tk
transverse vibrations ξ k = 4πm
ρUDCd Tk
vertical vibrations ξ k = 8πm
Differents types of cable vibrations
 Vortex shedding

US D
Nc = Uc =
D 0,18Tk
Wake effects
 Buffeting

2D
Torsional instability Uc =
Tt
 Aerodynamic stability
•Shape

US
•Lock oil cables •Oblique winds Nc =
3D
•Ice and snow •Drag crisis dCd 2C (U )
≤− d
dU U
Rain and Wind induced vibrations
Parametric excitation

2ω ²
Ak = A H (ω )
kπωk ²
Cable/structure interaction
Countermeasures
Dampers
A damper on the Iroise Bridge over the River Elorm
A damper on the Erasmus Bridge
A damper Vasco de Gama Bridge
 Countermeasures
Duct Shaping

A ducts of the Higashi-Kobe Bridge

The Longitudinal channels of the ducts

for the Higashi-Kobe Bridge
Countermeasures
Duct Shaping

A duct of the Beaucaire Bridge

with the helical filets
 Countermeasures
Duct Shaping

The dimples on the ducts for the

Tatara Bridge
Counter measures
Cross Cables
Counter measures
Cross Cables
Counter measures
Cross Cables
Counter measures
Cross Cables
Counter measures
Cross Cables
6. Fire and lightnings
6.1 Fire
6.2 Lightnings
7. Codes and recommendations

SETRA fib PTI