Abstract
An alternative geometrically nonlinear total Lagrangian finite element is presented and applied to solve cable, cable nets and a very long suspended bridge in both three and two-dimensional spaces from its setting-up through its response to earthquake. It includes dynamics, pseudo-dynamics regularization, elastic actuators and automatic stress calibration. Dynamics and pseudo-dynamics are used to perform transient structural analysis and the setting-up of very unstable structures. Elastic actuators allow pre-stressing structural members for the iterative structural design and cables natural length definition. Automatic stress calibration comprises continuous cables in complicated structures without sliding contact devices. The formulation is applied to model main cables of suspended bridges passing through saddle points. Inertial terms are introduced by an alternative mathematical way. Two simple examples are used to validate all aspects of the proposed formulation. Finally, a representative application is performed, i.e., the numerical design and analysis of a very long span suspension bridge by the proposed strategy.
Keywords:
FEM; Suspension bridges; Cable nets; Dynamics; Earthquake analysis
