Influence of fatigue on cable arrangement in cable-stayed bridges

Cable arrangement in cable-stayed bridges is one of the key issues in optimizing the design of this typology of bridges. Oscillating axial forces in the cables due to vehicular loading is usually the parameter on which attention of the designer is focused. The cables are particularly vulnerable to fatigue phenomena but the variation of axial forces in hangers depending on load configuration and cable arrangement was not deeply studied despite the fact that it is an important parameter in relation to the fatigue behaviour of the overall bridge. In this context, this paper mainly deals with the influence of fatigue on cable arrangement in cable-stayed bridges. The analysis is carried out by performing moving load analysis along the deck, and a parametric analysis of cable arrangement. Moreover, a lifetime assessment considering different corrosion propagation in cables is shown.