Approximate method for estimation of collapse loads of steel cable-stayed bridges

This paper proposes a new and simple method for estimating the collapse load of a steel cable-stayed bridge. A new convergence criterion for iterative eigenvalue computations is suggested to consider the beam–column effect of a cable-stayed bridge system. The collapse loads of two example bridges representing medium and long-span models are evaluated by the proposed method and compared to a nonlinear inelastic analysis. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is a good substitute for a complex nonlinear inelastic analysis to approximately evaluate the collapse loads as well as failure modes of steel cable-stayed bridges.

► A simple method is proposed for estimating collapse loads of cable-stayed bridges.
► A new convergence criterion includes the beam–column effect.
► Parametric studies are conducted to verify the validity of the proposed method.
► The proposed method gives acceptable results of collapse loads and failure modes.
► The proposed method is a good substitute for nonlinear inelastic analysis.