Analysis of Corrosion-Fatigue Damage and Fracture Mechanism of In-Service Bridge Cables/Hangers

Cables/hangers are important load-bearing components of suspension, cable-stayed, and through-arch bridges. Their reliability throughout their service life directly affects the safety of these bridges. In this study, to provide a reference for the design, maintenance, and inspection of bridge cables...

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Main Authors: Yao Guowen, Yang Shicong, Zhang Jinquan, Leng Yanling
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Advances in Civil Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6633706
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author Yao Guowen
Yang Shicong
Zhang Jinquan
Leng Yanling
author_facet Yao Guowen
Yang Shicong
Zhang Jinquan
Leng Yanling
author_sort Yao Guowen
collection DOAJ
description Cables/hangers are important load-bearing components of suspension, cable-stayed, and through-arch bridges. Their reliability throughout their service life directly affects the safety of these bridges. In this study, to provide a reference for the design, maintenance, and inspection of bridge cables/hangers, their damage and failure mechanisms were theoretically analyzed using finite element analysis and corrosion-fatigue simulation tests of steel wires, based on the characteristics of the cable/hanger damage. The finite element analysis showed that a rotation of 0.00113 rad in the lower anchorage area results in a bending stress of 18.8 MPa, indicating that the effect of the bending stress on the steel wires in this area cannot be neglected, as it is a factor contributing to the failure of long cables/hangers. We further used a salt spray chamber to simulate an acid-rain environment. The results showed the following: (1) corrosion-fatigue damage of the cables/hangers occurs under the combined action of a corrosive environment and an alternating stress. This leads to an intensified corrosion damage, reduced ductility, increased brittleness, and eventually, brittle fracturing of the cables/hangers. (2) In the same corrosive environment, the highest degree of specimen corrosion occurred during alternating stress, followed by static stress, and no stress. (3) After corrosion-fatigue damage occurred for a specimen, its breaking stress was about 60% in comparison to the uncorroded specimen. The percentage elongation at the break also decreased; this was about 40% in comparison to the uncorroded specimen, indicating brittle fracturing. (4) The steel wires of the cables/hangers with corrosion-fatigue damage are more prone to brittle fracture if they are exposed to complex spatial stresses.
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spelling doaj-art-d2b81aed7e0b4d52beb79afa1b687cbe2025-08-20T02:19:44ZengWileyAdvances in Civil Engineering1687-80861687-80942021-01-01202110.1155/2021/66337066633706Analysis of Corrosion-Fatigue Damage and Fracture Mechanism of In-Service Bridge Cables/HangersYao Guowen0Yang Shicong1Zhang Jinquan2Leng Yanling3State Key Laboratory of Mountain Bridge and Tunnel Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400067, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mountain Bridge and Tunnel Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400067, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mountain Bridge and Tunnel Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400067, ChinaNew Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88001, USACables/hangers are important load-bearing components of suspension, cable-stayed, and through-arch bridges. Their reliability throughout their service life directly affects the safety of these bridges. In this study, to provide a reference for the design, maintenance, and inspection of bridge cables/hangers, their damage and failure mechanisms were theoretically analyzed using finite element analysis and corrosion-fatigue simulation tests of steel wires, based on the characteristics of the cable/hanger damage. The finite element analysis showed that a rotation of 0.00113 rad in the lower anchorage area results in a bending stress of 18.8 MPa, indicating that the effect of the bending stress on the steel wires in this area cannot be neglected, as it is a factor contributing to the failure of long cables/hangers. We further used a salt spray chamber to simulate an acid-rain environment. The results showed the following: (1) corrosion-fatigue damage of the cables/hangers occurs under the combined action of a corrosive environment and an alternating stress. This leads to an intensified corrosion damage, reduced ductility, increased brittleness, and eventually, brittle fracturing of the cables/hangers. (2) In the same corrosive environment, the highest degree of specimen corrosion occurred during alternating stress, followed by static stress, and no stress. (3) After corrosion-fatigue damage occurred for a specimen, its breaking stress was about 60% in comparison to the uncorroded specimen. The percentage elongation at the break also decreased; this was about 40% in comparison to the uncorroded specimen, indicating brittle fracturing. (4) The steel wires of the cables/hangers with corrosion-fatigue damage are more prone to brittle fracture if they are exposed to complex spatial stresses.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6633706
spellingShingle Yao Guowen
Yang Shicong
Zhang Jinquan
Leng Yanling
Analysis of Corrosion-Fatigue Damage and Fracture Mechanism of In-Service Bridge Cables/Hangers
Advances in Civil Engineering
title Analysis of Corrosion-Fatigue Damage and Fracture Mechanism of In-Service Bridge Cables/Hangers
title_full Analysis of Corrosion-Fatigue Damage and Fracture Mechanism of In-Service Bridge Cables/Hangers
title_fullStr Analysis of Corrosion-Fatigue Damage and Fracture Mechanism of In-Service Bridge Cables/Hangers
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Corrosion-Fatigue Damage and Fracture Mechanism of In-Service Bridge Cables/Hangers
title_short Analysis of Corrosion-Fatigue Damage and Fracture Mechanism of In-Service Bridge Cables/Hangers
title_sort analysis of corrosion fatigue damage and fracture mechanism of in service bridge cables hangers
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6633706
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AT zhangjinquan analysisofcorrosionfatiguedamageandfracturemechanismofinservicebridgecableshangers
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