Direct simulation of the tensioning process of cable-stayed bridges

•The Direct Algorithm (DA) is proposed to model the erection of cable-stayed bridges.•For the very first time, the unstressed length of the stays concept is introduced.•The DA enables a fast and direct simulation by independent Finite Element Models.•The DA is especially indicated for optimization problems.

This paper proposes a new and innovative algorithm, the Direct Algorithm (DA), which introduces, for the very first time, the unstressed length of the stays concept into the modeling of the construction process of cable-stayed bridges. This assumption enables a fast and direct simulation of construction stages by analyzing independent Finite Element Models when time-dependent phenomena are neglected. The computational speed and the limited computer storing requirements of the DA make it especially indicated for optimization problems. Furthermore, it can be implemented in any structural analysis software.