Design of Concrete Segmental Cable-Stayed Bridges

Cable-stayed bridges are typically classified into two categories: conventional and special. For concrete segmental bridges, the primary adjustment may be given to cable forces first if the girder stiffness is comparatively large. Conventional cable-stayed bridges are defined as those in which the ratios of the height of the pylon to the center span length of the main girder typically range from one-fifth to one-fourth and are greater than one-eighth. The pylons or towers of a cable-stayed bridge are subjected not only to large axial forces but also to large bending moments due to their self-weights, forces from inclined cables, transverse and longitudinal forces from the deck system, as well as from wind and earthquakes. Cable-stayed bridges with four or more spans are rarely used, especially for long spans, due to the bridge stiffness consideration for the interior pylons without end anchor cables.