Impact analysis of cable clamp on completed state of self-anchored suspension bridge

The impacts of cable clamps on the completed state of a self-anchored suspension bridge were analyzed based on the finite element method (FEM^C). The cable clamp could raise the shape of main cable in a middle span. If the unstressed length of each boom was kept unchanged, the pulling force of each boom would increase. In the same way, if each boom was made to reach the designed force on the completed stage of a bridge, the unstressed length of each boom should be increased. Based on FEM^C, the impacts of parameters, e.g. length, cross-sectional area and moment of inertia on the completed state of a bridge, were studied respectively. Furthermore, the simplified formulas were established, which could calculate the elevation increment of mid-position of main cable in the middle span and the average increment of each boom force by the length ratio and area ratio of cable clamp. It is verified that results from FEM^C are in good agreement with the measured data.