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Fairclough HE, Gilbert M, Pichugin AV, et al. Theoretically optimal forms for very long-span bridges under gravity loading. Proc Math Phys Eng Sci. 2018;474(2217):20170726doi: 10.1098/rspa.2017.0726.
Fairclough, H. E., Gilbert, M., Pichugin, A. V., Tyas, A., & Firth, I. (2018). Theoretically optimal forms for very long-span bridges under gravity loading. Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences, 474(2217), 20170726. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2017.0726
Fairclough, Helen E, et al. "Theoretically optimal forms for very long-span bridges under gravity loading." Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences vol. 474,2217 (2018): 20170726. doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2017.0726
Fairclough HE, Gilbert M, Pichugin AV, Tyas A, Firth I. Theoretically optimal forms for very long-span bridges under gravity loading. Proc Math Phys Eng Sci. 2018 Sep;474(2217):20170726. doi: 10.1098/rspa.2017.0726. Epub 2018 Sep 19. PMID: 30333690; PMCID: PMC6189590.
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Proc Math Phys Eng Sci. 2018 Sep;474(2217):20170726. doi: 10.1098/rspa.2017.0726. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Theoretically optimal forms for very long-span bridges under gravity loading.

Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences

Helen E Fairclough, Matthew Gilbert, Aleksey V Pichugin, Andy Tyas, Ian Firth

Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK.
  2. Department of Mathematics, CEDPS, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK.
  3. COWI UK Ltd, Bevis Marks House, Bevis Marks, London EC3A 7JB, UK.

PMID: 30333690 PMCID: PMC6189590 DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2017.0726

Abstract

Long-span bridges have traditionally employed suspension or cable-stayed forms, comprising vertical pylons and networks of cables supporting a bridge deck. However, the optimality of such forms over very long spans appears never to have been rigorously assessed, and the theoretically optimal form for a given span carrying gravity loading has remained unknown. To address this we here describe a new numerical layout optimization procedure capable of intrinsically modelling the self-weight of the constituent structural elements, and use this to identify the form requiring the minimum volume of material for a given span. The bridge forms identified are complex and differ markedly to traditional suspension and cable-stayed bridge forms. Simplified variants incorporating split pylons are also presented. Although these would still be challenging to construct in practice, a benefit is that they are capable of spanning much greater distances for a given volume of material than traditional suspension and cable-stayed forms employing vertical pylons, particularly when very long spans (e.g. over 2 km) are involved.

Keywords: bridges; catenary of equal strength; layout optimization; structural optimization

Conflict of interest statement

We have no competing interests.

References

  1. Science. 2010 Apr 16;328(5976):319-20 - PubMed
  2. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci. 2015 Apr 13;373(2039):null - PubMed

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