Analytical and experimental dynamic behavior of a new type of cable-arch bridge

• An experimental and analytical work on a new hybrid bridge was carried out.
• The bridge behaves a weaker out-of-plane stiffness than in-plane one.
• The oblique angle of arch is beneficial to improve the transverse stiffness.
• Cable has a notable effect on the vertical and torsion stiffness of bridge.
• Stringers have a significant effect on the vertical and transverse stiffness.

It is meaningful and significant to develop a new type of arch-based bridge in order to improve the competitiveness and promote the development of arch bridge. In this work, the laboratory testing and finite element methods are used to study the dynamic behavior of a model cable-arch bridge with a total length of 25.6 m. The validation of the applicability of the finite element method in this study is conducted by comparing with experiment in terms of mode shape and frequency and with ambient test according to the similarity relation. The effects of number and initial tension force of cable on the dynamic behavior of the model bridge are examined by using the testing method, while the effects of oblique angle of main arch, wind bearing and stringer's stiffness are analyzed in detail using the analytical method. The results indicate that the cable-arch bridge has a better dynamic behavior in lower vertical and torsional modes than pure arch bridges, which would be beneficial to the main span enlargement of cable-arch bridges.