Compurers ci Structures Vol. 47, No. I, pp. I I I-123, 1993 0045-7949/93 $6.00 + 0.

00
Printed in Great Britain. Pergamon Press Ltd

INITIAL SHAPE OF CABLE-STAYED BRIDGES

P. H. WANG, T. C. TSENGand C. G. YANG

Department of Civil Engineering, Chung-Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taiwan, R.O.C.

(Received 12 December 1991)

Abstract-A finite element computation procedure for determining the initial shape of cable-stayed bridges
under the action of dead load of girders and pretension in inclined cables is presented. The system equation
of cable-stayed bridges including the nonlinearities due to large displacement, beamxolumn, and cable
sag effects is first set up and then solved using the Newton-Raphson method on increment-iterationwise.
Based on a reference configuration and an assumed cable pretension force, the equilibrium configuration
under dead load is found. Further, by adjusting cable forces, a shape iteration is carried out and a new
equilibrium configuration, i.e., a more reasonable initial shape, can be determined. The shape iteration
is repeated until the desired tolerance is achieved. Numerical results show that a more accurate initial shape
having reasonable prestress distribution and less deflection of girders can easily be determined by the
proposed procedure.

1. INTRODUCTION 2. FINITE ELEMENT FORMULATION

The concept of supporting a bridge deck by inclined 2.1. Assumptions

tension stays can be traced back to the seventeenth
century, but rapid progress in the analysis and
construction of cable-stayed bridges has been made
over the last 30 years. This progress is mainly due
to developments in the fields of computer technology,
high-strength steel cables and orthotropic steel decks.
Since the first modern cable-stayed bridge was built
in Sweden in 1955, their popularity has rapidly been
increasing all over the world [l, 21. Aesthetic appeal,
economics and ease of erection make the cable-stayed
bridge the most suitable for medium-long span
bridges with spans ranging from 750 ft (228 m) to
about 1500ft (457 m). A cable-stayed bridge consists
of three principal components, namely girders, towers
and inclined cable stays. The girder is supported
elastically at points along its length by inclined cable
stays so that the girder can span a much longer
distance without intermediate piers. The dead load
and traffic load on the girders are transmitted to the
towers by inclined cables. High tension forces exist in
cable-stays which induce high compression forces in
towers and part of girders. Since high pretension
force exists in inclined cables before live loads are
applied, the initial geometry and the prestress of cable-
stayed bridges are dependent on each other. They
cannot be specified independently as conventional
steel or reinforced concrete bridges. Therefore, the
initial shape, i.e., the geometric configuration and
the prestress distribution of cable-stayed bridges has
to be determined prior to analyzing them. The purpose
of this paper is to present an easy and efficient
computational algorithm for finding the initial shape
of cable-stayed bridges under the action of dead
load of girders and pretension forces in inclined
cables.
Based on the finite element concept, a cable-stayed
bridge can be considered as an assembly of a finite
number of cable and beam-column (for girder and
tower) elements. Some assumptions are made as
follows: the stress-strain relationship of all materials
always remains within linear elastic range during the
whole nonlinear computation, the cross-section area
of elements remains unchanged during deformation,
the cable element is assumed to be perfectly flexible
and to possess only tension stiffness, and it is incapable
of resisting compression, shear and bending forces.
For the beam element, the engineering beam theory
is employed and no shear strain is considered. All
cables are fixed to the tower and to the girder at their
joints of attachment.
2.2. Nonlinearities
2.2.1. Beam-column effect. Since high pretension
force exists in inclined cables, the tower and part of
the girder are under a large compression action, this
means that the beamxolumn effect has to be taken
into consideration for girders and towers of the cable-
stayed bridge. In a beamxolumn, lateral deflection
and axial force are interrelated such that its bending
stiffness is dependent on the element axial forces, and
the presence of bending moments will affect the axial
stiffness. The element bending stiffness decreases for
a compression axial force and increases for a tension
force. The beam-column effect can be evaluated by
using the stability functions [3, 51. The beam-column
element shown in Fig. 1 is utilized here. It has three
element coordinates, two for end rotations, u, , u, and
one for the relative axial deformation z+ = Al, where
A1 is the element axial elongation or shortening. The
element forces corresponding to uj are denoted by Sj
112 P. H. WANGer al.

where

J_ IS,1
-$ EIZ

R, = J(S; + S;) [cot(J) + J cosec2(J)]

fJR2
3,
QR3 - 2(SI + G2 + (S, S2)
1 + J cot(J)][W cosec(J)].
qg?&-/-qR x [

For a tensile axial force, S, > 0

Y c _ J[J cash(J) - J sinh(J)]

0
I- X
- 2 - 2 cash(J) + J sinh(J)

c, =
J[sinh(J) - J]
x,y : Local coardinotes system. 2 - 2 cash(J) + J sinh(J)
X,V : Glob01 coordinates system
1
R, =
u, : Element coordinates. 1 _ EAR,,
q. : System coordinates.
4s 3I2
Fig. 1. Beam-column element.
where

in which S, and S, are the end moments and S, is the

axial force.
When the material behaves linearly elastically and R.,,,,= J(S: + S:)[coth(J) + J cosech2(J)]
the beam-column effect is not considered, the element
- 2(S, + S2)2 + (S, S,)[l + J coth(J)]
stiffness matrix KEjk has the form
x [2J cosech(J)].

1
42 0
KEjk=[KE]=7 2 4 0 , 2.2.2. Cable sag e$ect. The inclined cable stay of
cable-stayed bridges is generally quite long and it is
i0 0 A/I
well known that a cable supported at its end and
where E is the modulus of elasticity, A is the cross- under the action of dead load and axial tensile force
sectional area, Z equals the moment inertia of the will sag into a catenary shape (Fig. 2). The axial
cross-sectional area and 1 is the element length. stiffness of a cable will change with changing sag.
When the beam-column effect has to be taken into When a straight cable element for a whole inclined
consideration, the beam-column element stiffness cable stay is used in the analysis, the sag effect must
matrix can be modified by employing the stability
functions [3, 51 and has the following form

The stability function C,, C, and R, can be

expressed in terms of the element axial force S, and
the end moments S, and S, as follows. 4R2

For a compressive axial force, S, < 0

t

c = J[sin(J) - J cos(J)]
2 - 2 cos(J) - J sin(J)

J[J - sin(J)]
c, =
2 - 2 cos(J) - J sin(J)

1
R, =
EAR,
- 4(S, (3P Fig. 2. Cable element with sag.
 Initial shape of cable-stayed bridges 113

be taken into account. On the consideration of the Table 1. Transformation coefficients of the plane cable
sag nonlinearity in the inclined cable stays, it is element
convenient to use an equivalent straight cable element u
with an equivalent modulus of elasticity [5-71, which Ll L2 Rl R2

can well describe the catenary action of the cable. .i %

Ax AX
When no sag effect exists, the straight cable element 1 --. -- AY AY
with one coordinate (relative axial deformation) 1 I r r
ui = Al, has the stiffness matrix as follows:
B

1
EA Ll L2 RI R2
KEik = [KE] =
II I

[rol,-
for I
for a, Q 0,
Ll
L2
a

H, -H3
an_8
HI H,
4 H, 4
where E is the effective cable material modulus of RI symmetric 6 -H,
elasticity, A is the cross-sectional area, and I is the R2 HZ
element length. The cable stiffness vanishes and no
element force exists for U, < 0, i.e., when shortening
H,+A$, H2Tf_$, H3=-.
Ax Ay
I
occurs. In the analysis of cable-stayed bridges, the sag I = ,/m which equals deformed element length.
effect of the inclined cable stays has to be taken into Ax equals the projection of element length on the X-axis.
account, when the whole inclined cable is replaced by Ay equals the projection of element length on the Y-axis.
a single cable element. The sag effect can be included
by using the equivalent modulus [S-7]. The concept of has to be considered and the equilibrium equations
an equivalent modulus of elasticity was first introduced must be set up based on the deformed position [8,9].
by Ernst [4]. In the present study the motion of structural
If the change in tension for a cable during a load elements during large deflections is described by the
increment is not large, the axial stiffness of the cable exact transformation coefficients ah that relate the
will not significantly change and the cable equivalent
modulus of elasticity can be considered constant Table 2. Transformation coefficients of the plane beam-
during the load increment and is given by column element
a
E Ll L2 L3 RI R2 R3
Eeq =
1 + (wL)*AE i s
12T 1 -B A 1 B -A 0
2 -B A 0 B -A 1
in which E, is the equivalent cable modulus of 3 -C -D 0 c D 0
elasticity, w is the cable weight per unit length, L is For j= I,2
the horizontal projected length of the cable and T is
B
the tension force in the cable. Ll L2 L3 R1 R2 R3
If the tension in the cable varies largely during a a ar.8
load increment, the axial stiffness of the cable will Ll -Hz H, 0 H, -H, 0
significantly change and the equivalent modulus of L2 H2 0 -H, -Hz 0
elasticity over the load increment is given by L3 0 0 0 0
Rl symmetric -H2 H, 0
E R2 H2 0

E, = R3 0
1 + (wL>*(Tj + T/ME
Forj=3
24T!T*
1 /
B
where Ti and T,are the initial and final tension in the Ll L2 L3 RI R2 R3
a @,./I
cable over the load increment. The cable equivalent
modulus of elasticity combines both the effects of Ll H, fh 0 -H, -H4 0
L2 H5 0 -H4 -H, 0
material and geometric deformation. The value of the
L3 0 0 0 0
equivalent modulus is dependent upon the weight and
Rl symmetric H, 4 0
the tension in cable. Hence, the axial stiffness of the R2 Hs 0
equivalent element combining cable sag and cable R3 0
tension determined by the above equations is the
same as the axial stiffness of the actual cable.
2.2.3. Large displacement effect. In general, cable-
stayed bridges have a larger span and less weight than H =Ax2-Ay= 2Ax Ay 1 Ax=
L p, H2=-__ > H,=r-71,
that of conventional steel and reinforced concrete 14 14
bridges. Large deflections may easily appear in cable- H =-AXAY
stayed bridges. Hence the large displacement effect 4 p., +f_!$
I
114 P. H.
local element coordinates and the global system co-
ordinates. The nonlinear transformation coefficients
of the first order and the second order, ajUand u,~,~
for the straight cable element and the beam-column
element can be found in [8,9] and are listed in
Tables 1 and 2. With the help of the nonlinear
transformation coefficients aja and aj,,a, the tangent
system stiffness matrix will be built up with the stand-
ard procedure by assembling the element stiffness
matrices (see the next section).
2.3, General system equation
In the following analysis of this paper, the non-
linearities induced by beam-column, cable sag and
large displacement effects will be taken into account,
but all materials behave linearly and elastically. The
general system equations for a finite element model
of structural systems in nonlinear static analysis can
be derived from the virtual work principle and have
the following form [8]
Ki.W~-~Sja,=O, tl = 1,2 ,..., N DOF, (1)
EL
where l$i = a Wj/aq. are the basic vectors, LZ,= hj/aq,
are the transformation coefficients, P, = Kj. bO, are
the generalized external forces, T, = EEL Sjaj, are the
generalized internal forces, Kj are external nodal load
vectors, Wj are the displacement vectors correspond-
ing to K, Sj = KEjkuk + S, are the generalized element
forces, S, are the initial generalized element forces,
uj are the generalized element coordinates, qUare the
generalized system coordinates, KEjk is the element
stiffness matrix, ZEL is the summation over all
elements, and N equals the number of degrees of
freedom (DOF). The superscript j denotes the nodal
number. The subscripts a, /I, y, . . , denote the num-
ber of system coordinate and j, k, 1, . . . , the number
of element coordinate. The index summation conven-
tion is used here for the super- and subscripts. The
letters printed in boldface type, e.g. Kj, b,, represent
vectors. The dot notation between vectors means
scalar product. In the analysis of cable-stayed
bridges, the material behaves linearly elastic and the
deflection is large, but with a small strain. In eqn (1)
b,, ai,, uj may be nonlinear functions of the system
coordinates q. when large deflections occur and the
nodal load vectors K may also become functions of
qZ, if they are not displacement independent. Equation
(1) represents a set of nonlinear algebraic equations
and can be solved by the load increment methods or
by the iteration methods.
2.4. Linearized system equation
For the sake of incrementally solving the large
deflection problem, the linearized system equation
has to be derived. By taking the first order of the
Taylors expansion of the general system equation
(I), the linearized system equation for a small load
interval is obtained as follows:
AP; + .Pz = K&. Aq; for P; < P, < P",+I, (2)
WANG et al.
where AP: = Pi+ - P: are load increments, Aq;
= qi;f - q; are displacement increments, ,,P; = P:
- Z, Sya$ are unbalanced forces in statics, 2K:a =
Z, KE~ka;a,p + C, .$~a~~B- n J. J, B -"K$ . b, is
the system stiffness matrix, a,,= ai.)aq, are trans-
formation coefficients of second oGer and Wi,s=
ab,/aqs. The superscript n denotes the number of
load step and the two means iteration matrix of
second order. It is well known that a pure increment
computation will bring larger numerical errors.
An increment-iteration computation procedure is
recommended in order to get more accurate solutions.
3. SHAPE FINDING PROCEDURE
The initial shape of a cable-stayed bridge provides
the geometric configuration as well as the prestress
distribution of the bridge under the action of the dead
load of girders and the pretension force in inclined
cable stays. The relation for the equilibrium condi-
tions, the specified boundary conditions, and the re-
quirements of architectural design should be satisfied
here. For the following shape-finding computation,
only the dead load of girders is taken into account
and the dead load of cables and towers are neglected,
but cable sag nonlinearity induced by cable dead load
is included. The computation for shape finding starts
with zero (or very small) tension forces in inclined
cables. Based on a reference configuration (the archi-
tectural designed form) having no deflection in girders
and zero prestress in any element, the equilibrium
position of the cable-stayed bridge under dead load
action is first determined iteratively by the Newton-
Raphson method. Although this first determined
configuration satisfies the equilibrium conditions and
the boundary conditions, the requirements of archi-
tectural design are not fulfilled. Since the bridge span
is large and no tension forces exist in inclined cables,
quite large deflections and very large bending moments
may appear in the girders.
A shape iteration has to be carried out in order to
reduce the deflection and to smooth the bending
moments in the girder. For shape iteration, the cable
axial forces determined in the previous step will be
taken as initial element forces for inclined cables and
a new equilibrium configuration under the action of
dead load and such cable initial forces will be deter-
mined again. During shape iteration several control
points (nodes intersected by the girder and the cable)
will be chosen for checking if the convergence toler-
ence is achieved or not. In each shape iteration the
ratio of the vertical displacement at control points to
the main span length will be checked, i.e.
vertical displacement at control point
G 6.7.
main span
The shape iteration will be repeated until the con-
vergence tolerance cr, say 10d4, is achieved. Numerical
experiments show that the iteration computation
 Initial shape of cable-stayed bridges 115

converges monotonously. When the convergence tol- l Determine the element deformations and the
erance for shape iteration is reached, the computation element forces.
will be stopped and the initial shape of the cable-
(4) Shape iteration
stayed bridges is found.
(ii check if the convergence tolerance
vertical displacement at control point
4. COMPUTATION ALGORITHM FOR G cs
SHAPE FINDING
main span
is achieved or not,
The algorithm for shape finding computation of
(ii) if convergent, then the equilibrium configuration
cable-stayed bridges is briefly summarized:
is the desired shape, else take the determined
(1) Input the geometric and physical data of the
cable axial forces as initial cable force and repeat
bridge.
steps (3) and (4).
(2) Input the dead load of girders and the zero (or
very small) initial force in cables.
(3) Equilibrium iteration 5. NUMERICAL RESULTS

6) calculate the element stiffness matrices for the Three different types of cable-stayed bridges are
cable including sag effect and for the beam- taken from the literature and their initial shapes will
column, be determined by the previous described shape
(ii) calculate the transformation coefficients ujm,ujll,s, finding procedure. Here, a convergence tolerance
(iii) set up the tangent system stiffness matrix, *K$, c = 1O-4 is used for both the equilibrium iteration
(iv) solve the linearized system equations by the and the shape iteration. From the numerical results,
Newton-Raphson method to find the equilibrium it is seen that the deflection and the maximum
configuration. bending moment in girders are strongly reduced, and
a more accurate initial shape having less deflection
After solving the linearized system equations:
and more uniform prestress distribution of girders
AP, + uP; = *Kjl,. Aqj, Aq; is found.
Set i = I), (IAq; = Aq;, cogi;= qj, and ci+)q; = can be found.
(q; + Aq; . 5.1. Unsymmetrical cable-stayed bridge
If
This unsymmetrical cable-stayed bridge is taken
II%a II < ~ (convergence tolerance)
from [lo, 111.Its geometrical form and physical prop-
Il(i)4ns((. erties are shown in Fig. 3. The shape iteration control
then (9 i+ I = G+)qi;, and begin the next load points are chosen at node 3. Until the initial shape is
step) found, shape iteration is performed four times and in
else (i=i+l, and solve each shape iteration, five to six cycles of equilibrium
Ci,p; = 02Q . WAq; iteration are needed. The geometrical configuration
bith (it iq; = (i)qi;+ (i)Ag;; of the bridge and the moment, shear and axial force
and repeat convergence check.) diagrams of the bridge girder are plotted in Fig. 4.

Modulus of elasticity E= 4 x IO6 ksf

Girder - I= 45.0ft4 ; A= 8.0ft2
Tower - above girder : I = 20ft4; A=3ft2
below girder: I= 200ft4; A --IOft2
Cable - A= l.lft2
Dead load - girder W = 18.0 kips ft-
cable W ~0.3 kips ft-

Fig. 3. Unsymmetric cable-stayed bridge.

116 P. H. WANG et al.

----- Reference configuration

- Before shape iteration

- After shape iteration

Shapes
(displacement enlorged by IO x)
65,240

-71,272 G5.900
Bending moment diagram
(kips ftl

Shear diagram fkips)

-7778

-9400

Axial force diagram (kips)

Fig. 4. Initial shape, moment, shear and axial force diagrams of the unsymmetric cable-stayed bridge.

The variations on axial forces in the cable-stays the control point node 3 is reduced from 2.452 to
during the shape iteration is given in Table 3. The 0.0137 ft. The maximum positive and negative bending
deflection at node 3 and the maximum bending moment occurs at nodes 2 and 3. They are reduced
moment in girders are listed in the Table 4. The dead from 65,240 at the node 2 and -75,900 at node 7
load stresses determined by Tang [lo] are also listed to 44,361 kips ft at the node 2 and -71,272 kips ft at
in Tables 3 and 4 for comparison. the node 3, respectively. The maximum shear force
The pretension forces in cables between nodes 3-5 and axial force in girder have slightly increased after
and 5-10 converge from 8410 and 10,163 kips to shape iteration, because the pretension force of cables
10,010 and 12,043 kips. The vertical displa~ment at increases (see Fig. 4).
The dead load stress (pretension force called in
this study) of cables between the nodes 3-5 and 5-10
Table 3. Cable forces of the unsymmetric cable-stayed
bridge determined by Tang [lo] are 9680 and 11,500 kips,
respectively and the maximum positive and negative
Cable Force Cable Force
NSI CEI No. (kips) No.
moments of the girder are 66,400 kips ft at the node 2
(kips)
and -73,000 kips ft at the node 3, respectively. From
1 6 3-5 8410 5-10 10,163 Table 3 we see that the result presented by Tang [IO]
2 5 35 9764 5-10 11,754
3 5 3-5 9977 S-10 12,004 is between the results of the first and the second shape
4 5 3-5 10,010 5-10 12,043 iteration in the present study. It is evidently seen that
Ref. [lo] 3-5 9680 5-10 11,500 the present shape-finding procedure offers a more
NSI = No. of shape iteration. accurate initial shape having less defiection and more
CEI = cycles of equilibrium iteration. smooth moment distribution in the girders than the
 Initial shape of cable-stayed bridges 117

Table 4. Deflections and maximum moments of the unsymmetric cable-stayed bridge

Vertical deflection Maximum moment in girder
(fQ (kips ft)
Positive Negative
NSI CEI Node Deflection Node moment Node moment
1 6 3 2.452 2 65,240 7 -75,900
2 5 3 0.391 2 47,584 3 - 64,826
3 5 3 0.0649 2 44,799 3 - 70,397
4 5 3 0.0137 2 44,361 3 -71,272
Ref. [lo] - - 2 66,400 3 -73,000
NSI = No. of shape iteration.
CEI = cycles of equilibrium iteration.

Table 5. Initial shape of the unsymmetric cable-stayed bridge

Element forces
Reference Determined Rending moments
configuration configuration (kipsft)
Node Element Axial force
No. X Y X Y No. (kips) Left Right
1 0.00 0.00 -1.61 0.00 3-5 O.lOOlOOE+ 05 - -
2 100.00 0.00 99.98 2.67 5-10 0.120435E + 05 - -
3 200.00 0.00 199.98 2.45 l-2 0.385399E + 01 0.727596E - 11 -0.443612E + 05
4 300.00 0.00 299.98 1.69 2-3 0.988764E + 01 0.443612E + 05 0.712718E + 05
5 400.00 - 80.00 399.97 - 79.93 3-4 -0.929008E + 04 -0.712718E + 05 -0.284778E + 05
6 400.00 -40.00 399.93 - 39.96 4-7 -0.929123E + 04 0.284778E + 05 0.390289E + 05
7 399.97 0.00 7-9 -0.940489E + 04 -0.305430E + 05 0.169594E + 04
8 2: 000
800 400.00 8.00 9-10 -0.9404648 + 04 -0.169593E + 04 0.121953E + 05
9 45o:oo 0:OO 449.97 -0.13 10-l 1 0.766184E + 00 -0.121953E + 05 -0.139023E + 05
10 499.97 0.00 1l-12 0.408150E + 00 0.139023E + 05 -0.813088E - 09
11 500.00
550.00 ::: 549.97 0.11 6-5 -O.l12415E+05 -0.496326E + 04 0.949942E - 03
12 600.00 0.00 599.97 0.00 7-6 -O.l12418E+05 -0.88314lE + 04 0.496326E + 04
8-7 -0.136632E + 05 0.154043E - 06 0.345533E + 03

b-6 at i50ft +*2OOft-G 6 at Isoft ____I(

Girder, tower -Es 4.320.000 ksf

cable -E=4,320,000ksf
Girder - I = 131.0ft4: A= 3.44ft2
Tower - I = 24.4, 40.0, 50.0ft4 (from top to bottom)
-A=2.18,2.45,2.90ft2
Cable - exterior : A = 0.4S2ft2
interior : A = 0.174ft2
Dead load - girder W= 6.0 kips ft-
cable : exterior W= 0.22 I kips ft-
interior IV= 0.085 kipr ft-

Fig. 5. Symmetric harp cable-stayed bridge.

118 P. H. WANGet al.

previous methods proposed by other authors. The Table 6. Cable forces of the symmetric harp cable-stayed
final geometric configuration and the element forces bridge
of the unsymmetrical cable-stayed bridges are listed Cable Force Cable Force Cable Force
in Table 5. NSI CEI No. (kips) No. (kips) No. (kips)
1 6 8-9 2862 76 1556 2-3 1393
5.2. Symmetric harp cable-stayed bridge 2 6 8-9 2842 76 1912 2-3 1852
This symmetric harp cable-stayed bridge is taken 3 6 8-9 2724 76 2063 2-3 2066
4 7 8-9 2650 76 2148 2-3 2175
from [l 1, 121. Its geometrical and physical properties
are given in Fig. 5. The shape iteration control points NSI = No. of shape iteration.
are chosen at nodes 4, 5, 10. The vertical displacements CEI = cycles of equilibrium iteration.
at these nodes are checked during shape iterations.
Four cycles in shape iteration are needed until the symmetric harp cable-stayed bridge are listed in the
initial shape is found and six to seven cycles of equi- Tables 6-8.
librium iteration in each shape iteration are performed. After shape iterations the cable forces converge from
The geometrical configuration of the bridge and the 2862, 1566 and 1393 kips to 2650,2148 and 2175 kips
moment, shear, axial force diagrams of the bridge in the cable element between the nodes 8-9, 6-7 and
girder are plotted in Fig. 6. The cable forces, vertical 2-3, respectively. The vertical deflection at nodes 4,
deflections at the control points and maximum positive 5, 10 is strongly reduced from 1.607 to -O.O816ft,
and negative bending moments in girders of the 3.369 to -0.102 ft, 4.257 to -0.090 ft, respectively.

----- Reference configuration

- Before shape iteration

- After shape iteration

Shapes
(displacement enlarged by 20 x 1

29.500

Bending moment diagram

u -937 u
Shear diagram (kips)

\ -53oo p i_i 4
-6370
Axial force diagram (kips)

Fig. 6. Initial shape, moment, shear and axial force diagrams of the harp cable-stayed bridge.
 Table 7. Deflections of the symmetric harp cable-stayed bridge Table 8. Maximum bending moments of the symmetric
harp cable-stayed bridge
Vertical deflection (ft)
Maximum moment in girder (kips B)
NSI CEI Node Deflection Node Deflection Node Deflection -___-

:. 6 4 0.102
1.607 5 0.176
3.369 10 0.067
4.257 NSI CEI Node moment
Positive Node Negative
moment
3 6 4 -0.047 5 -0.072 10 -0.133 1 11 29,550 I - 80,645
4 7 4 -0.0816 5 -0.102 IO -0.090 2 : 7 9758 1 - 34,480
NSI = No. of shape iteration. 3 6 11 10,023 1 - 22,482
CEI = cycles of equilibrium iteration. 4 7 11 12,276 10 - 17,724
NSI = No. of shape iteration.
CEI = cycles of equilibrium iteration.

Table 9. Initial shape of the symmetric harp cable-stayed bridge

Element forces
_.
Node Reference configuration Determined configuration Element Axial force Bending moments (kips ft)
NO. X Y x Y No. (kinsl
. __ Left Right
450.00 0.00 8-9 0.265004E + 04 -
: 450.00
300.00 X:: 300.00 0.21 0.214803E + 04 - -
- 66.67 449.94 -66.67 z 0.2174958 f 04 - -
: 600.00
450.00 600.00 -0.08 3-4 0.216434E + 04 -
: 450.00
750.00 :z 750.00 -0.10 0.207151E + 04 - -
- 133:33 449.92 - 133.34 ZO 0.270385E -l- 04 - -
7 150.00 0.00 150.00 0.29 12-13 0.270385E t- 04 - -
- -
se
! 450.00
0.00 0.00 17-16 0.20715lB + 04
-2ooo:g 44;: - 199.99 IS-19 0.216434E + 04 - - ?
Y
:I: 1000.00
900.00 0.00 9tkl:OO -0.09 19-20 0.217495E + 04 - - G
0.00 1OOtKJO -0.01 1615 0.2148038 + 04 - - &
12 1100.00 0.00 1100.00 -0.09 13-14 0.265004E + 04
f: 2000.00
1550.00 --200.00 1550.02 - 199.99 8-7 -0.242164E + 04 0.OOOOOOE + 00 O.l26024E+O4
0.00 2000.00 8.E 2-1
7-2 -0.4383688 + 04 -0.126024E + 04 0.7428 14E + 04
:: 1550.00
1850.00 0.00 1849.99 -0.6369918 + 04 -0.742814E + 04 0.166947E + 05
- 133.33 1550.09 - 133:34 l-4 -0.6342648 + 04 -0.1682938 i-05 0.122668E + 05
17 125o.oO 0.00 1250.00 -0.10 4-5 -0.436429E + 04 -0.1226688 + 05 0.106OlOE + OS
18 1400.00 0.00 1400.00 -0.08 5-10 -0.2471018 + 04 -0.1060lOE + 05 0.177241 E + 05
19 1550.00 -66.67 1550.07 - 66.67 10-l 1 0.225982B i- 00 -0.177241E + 05 -0.122758E + 05
0.00 1699.99 0.21 11-12 0.22598213 + 00 0.122758E + 05 0.177242E + 05
2: 1550.00
1700.00 0.00 1550.00 0.00 12 17 -0.24710115 + 04 - 0.1772428 f 05 0.106010E + 05
17-18 - 0.4364298 + 04 -0.106010E + 0.5 0.122668E + 05
18-21 -0.634264E + 04 -0.122668E +- 05 0.168293E f 05
21-20 -0.636991E + 04 -0.166947E f OS 0.742813E + 04
20-15 -0.438368E + 04 -0.742813E f 04 0.126023E + 04
15-14 -0.2421648 + 04 -0.126023E + 04 -0.132422E - 08
-0.217396E + 04 -0.343802E + 04 -0S11318E-08
z -0.388884E + 04 -0.206629E + 04 0.343802E + 04
l-3 -0565268E + 04 0.1346428 + 03 0.206629E + 04
16-13 -0.217396E + 04 0.343802E + 04 -0.620184E - 08
19-16 -0.388884E + 04 0.206629E + 04 -0.3438028 + 04
21-19 -0.565268E + 04 -0.134640E + 03 - 0.206629E + 04
 P. H. WANGet al.

E-_-------6 at ISOft ------&2oOft+ 6 at ISOft -4

Girder) tower -Es 4,320J300kSf

cable -E=4,320,000ksf
Girder - I= 131.0ft4: A= 3.44ft
Tower - I= 24.4, 40.0, 50.0ft4 (from top t0 bottom]
- A= 2.18, 2.45 ,2.S0tt2
Coble - exterior : A =0.452 ft2
interior : A = 0. 174ft2
Dead load - girder W= 6.0 kips ft-
cable : exterior W= 0.221 kips ft-!
interior W= 0.085kips ff

Fig. 7. Symmetric radiating cable-stayed bridge.

----- Reference configuration

- Before shape iteration

- After shape iteration

Shapes
(displacement enlorgad by 20 x1

36,942

-49.360 Sending moment diagram

(kips ftf
651

-659
Shear diogrom (kips)

-4420
Axial force diagram (kips)
Fig. 8, Initial shape, moment, shear and axial force diagrams of the radiating cable-stayed bridge.
 Initial shape of cable-stayed bridges 121

Table 10. Cable forces of the symmetric radiating cable-

stayed bridge
Cable Force Cable Force Cable Force
NSI CEI No. (kips) No. (kips) No. (kips)
1 15 8-9 2571 7-9 1396 2-9 1004
2 4 8-9 2597 7-9 1586 2-9 1170
3 5 &9 2549 7-9 1656 2-9 1198
NSI = No. of shape iteration.
CEI = cycles of equilibrium iteration.

Table 11. Deflections of the symmetric radiating cable-stayed bridge

Vertical deflection (ft)
NSI CEI Node Deflection Node Deflection Node Deflection
1 15 4 1.203 5 2.745 10 3.83
2 4 4 0.0515 5 0.115 10 0.172
3 5 4 3.85 x 1O-4 5 -0.0168 10 -0.0183
NSI = No. of shape iteration.
CEI = cycles of equilibrium iteration.

Table 12. Maximum bending moments of the symmetric

radiating cable-stayed bridge
Maximum moment in girder (kips ft)
Positive Negative
NSI CEI Node moment Node moment
1 15 11 36,942 1 -49,400
2 4 I1 13,253 10 - 16,747
3 5 11 11,880 10 - 18,120
NSI = No. of shape iteration.
CEI = cycles of equilibrium iteration.

The maximum positive and negative bending moments
in girder are reduced from 29,550 at the node 11 and
- 80,645 at the node 1 to 12,276 kips ft at the node 11
and - 17,724 kips ft at the node IO. The moment and
the shear force in girders are strongly reduced and
become more smooth in this example. The axial force
in girders increases slightly (see Fig. 6). The final
geometric configuration and the element forces of the
symmetric harp cable-stayed bridge are listed in
Table 9.
1.203, 2.745, 3.83 to 0.0004, -0.0168, -O.O183ft,
respectively, and the maximum positive and negative
moment from 36,942, -49,400 kps ft to 11,880,
-18,120 kips ft. The moment distribution in the
girder becomes more uniform. The shear force is also
reduced in this example and the axial force increases
slightly (see Fig. 8). The final geometric contiguration
and the element forces of the symmetric radiating
cable-stayed bridge are listed in Table 13.

5.3. Symmetric radiating cable-stayed bridge 6. CONCLUSION

This symmetric radiating cable-stayed bridge is
taken from [I 11. Its geometry is shown in Fig. 7.
Its geometric and physical properties have the same
values as that of the previous example. The shape
iteration control points are chosen at the nodes 4, 5,
10. For this example three cycles of shape iteration
are needed. In each shape iteration, 4-15 cycles of
equilibrium iteration are needed. Similarly, the geo-
metric conligurations and the moment, shear and
axial force diagrams are plotted in Fig. 8; their cable
forces, vertical deflections at the shape iteration
control points and maximum bending moments in the
girder are given in Tables 10-12.
The cable forces converge from 2571, 1396 and
1004 kips to 2549, 1656 and 1189 kips in the cable
elements between the nodes 8-9 7-9 and 2-9. The
vertical deflections at nodes 4,5, 10 are reduced from
A finite element computation procedure for finding
the initial shape of cable-stayed bridges under the
action of the dead load of girders and the pretension
in inclined cable stays is presented. The nonlinear&s
induced by beam-column, cable sag and large
displacement effects have been taken into account.
The nonlinear system equation is solved increment-
iterationwise. Two iteration cycles have been intro-
duced: one is the usual equilibrium iteration and the
other is the shape iteration for finding the initial shape,
which can mostly achieve the architectural designed
form and satisfies all the equilibrium and boundary
conditions. Numerical results show that the proposed
shape fmding procedure of cable-stayed bridges
works very efficiently and the computation converges
monotonously. A more accurate and reasonable initial
shape having less deflection of the girder and more
 Table 13. Initial shape of the symmetric radiating cable-stayed bridge
Element forces
Bending moments
Node Reference configuration Determined configuration Element Axial force (kips ft)
No. x Y X Y No. (kips) Left Right

1 450.00 0.00 450.0 1 0.00 a-9 0.254935E + 04 - -

2 300.00 0.00 300.01 0.19 7-9 0.165617E + 04 - -
3 450.00 - 66.67 449.99 -66.67 2-9 0.118929E + 04 -
4 600.00 0.00 600.01 -0.00 94 0.112332E + 04 -
5 750.00 0.00 750.01 -0.17 9-5 0.152lllEfO4 -
6 450.00 - 133.33 449.95 - 133.33 9-10 0.271472E + 04 -
7 150.00 0.00 150.02 8.13 12-13 0.271472E + 04 -
8 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 17-13 O.l52lllE+O4 -
9 450.00 - 200.00 449.88 - 199.99 18-13 0.112332EfO4 - -
10 900.00 0.00 900.01 -0.18 13-20 O.l18929E+O4 - -
11 1000.00 0.00 1ooO.01 0.54 13-15 O.l65617E++ -
- .T
12 1100.00 0.00 1100.01 -0.18 13-14 0.254935E + 04
13 1550.00 - 200.00 1550.13 - 199.99 8-7 -0.232965E + 04 0.363798E - 11 0.80392OE + 04 ?
14 2000.00 0.00 2000.00 0.00 7-2 -0.370743E + 04 -0.803920E + 04 0.136554E + 05
15 1850.00 0.00 1849.99 0.81 2-l -0.442095E + 04 -0.136554E + 05 0.113986E + 05
P
16 1550.00 - 133.33 1550.06 - 133.33 14 -0.44205lE + 04 -0.115575E + 05 0.107682E + 05 n
17 1250.00 0.00 1250.00 -0.17 4-5 - 0.374649E + 04 -0.107682E + 05 0.102512E + 05 2
a
18 1400.00 0.00 1400.00 0.00 5-10 -0.24808OE + 04 -0.102512E +05 0.1812lOE + 05 7

19 1550.00 -66.67 1550.02 - 66.67 IO-11 0.215465E + 00 -0.1812lOE + 05 -0.11879OE + 05

20 1700.00 0.00 1699.99 0.19 11-12 0.215467E + 00 0.118790E + 05 0.1812lOE + 05
21 1550.00 0.00 1550.00 0.00 12-17 - 0.24808OE + 04 -0.1812lOE + 05 0.102513E + 05
17-18 -0.374649E + 04 -0.102513E +05 0.107682E + 05
18-21 -0.44205lE + 04 -0.107682E + 05 O.l15575E+05
21-20 -0.442095E + 04 -O.l13986E+05 0.136554E + 05
20-15 -0.370744E + 04 -0.136554E + 05 0.803916E + 04
15-14 -0.232965E + 04 -0.803916E + 04 0.823638E - 08
69 -0.57506lE + 04 0.6595OOE + 02 0.559794E - 06
3-6 -0.57506lE + 04 0.120192E + 03 -0.6595OOE + 02
l-3 -0.57506lE + 04 0.158839E + 03 -0.120192E + 03
1613 -0.57506lE + 04 -0.659203E + 02 -0.194694E - 05
19-16 -0.57506lE + 04 -0.120173E + 03 0.6592038 + 02
21-19 -0.57506lE + 04 -0.158868E + 03 0.120173E + 03
 Initial shape of cable-stayed bridges
uniform distribution of bending moment in the girder
can he determined very easily and quickly.
Acknowledgement-This research was sponsored by a grant
under No. NSC 79-0410-E033-04 from the National Science
Council, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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