A STUDY ON THE ULTIMATE STRENGTH OF THE MAIN-CABLE AND HANGER SYSTEM OF SIMPLE-SPAN SUSPENSION BRIDGES DUE TO THE VERTICAL LOADS

Abstract

A new theory, which is based on the deflection theory and is applied to elasto-plastic analysis of suspension bridges, has been developed. It was found from the calculated results on ultimate strength of the main-cable and hanger system of simple-span suspension bridges that the safety factor of the individual members is not the same as that of the whole system, and that the system which has hangers with higher safety factors than that of maincables could improve the ultimate strength of the whole system. It is also found that the system designed by the live loads with the safety factors of 2.0 would have sufficient resistance towards large earthquakes.