Abstract
This paper presents an effect of inelastic behavior of cables on ultimate behavior and strength of cable-stayed bridges based on elasto-plastic finite displacement analysis. It is found, since the girder is subjected to the large compressive axial force, that the plastic elongation of the cables leads to the collapse of the bridge. The load parameter at ultimate state due to able plastic elongation can be estimated by calculating the ratio of the yield stress to produced maximum stress in the cable. From a viewpoint of in-plane buckling instability, the possibility of the reduction of the safety factor against proof stress from 2.0 to 1.7 is presented.
