As part of the OpenBridge Designer installation the RM Bridge Enterprise has inside its File\Examples\Demo examples and FAQ\Suspension Bridge a Demo Example of a simplified suspension bridge and how to deal with a series of particular topics in the design of suspension structures including how to find the Main Suspension Cable and the Hangers forces. The main topics included in this example files (.tcl) and documentation (.pdf) are:

•  Modeling of the structural system of a suspension structure
•  Estimation of geometry
•  Construction Stage analysis of a suspension structure
•  Traffic on a suspension structure
•  Dynamics on a suspension structure

 

The most important issue is the necessary consideration of large displacements, the third order theory, selected under Recal, or Recalculation Tab Non-Linear Analysis. At the modeling considerations, it is very important to consider additional constraints for the several cable connection nodes to include compatibility about how a cable element is in a tridimensional structure. Cable nodes need fixation of all rotations for their beginning and end nodes.

For more information about the Cable Compatibility and Stress Ribbon Bridges, check the link below:

communities.bentley.com/.../stress-ribbon-bridge---cable-compatibility

For the modeling of a suspension bridge, please find more instructions at the links below:

communities.bentley.com/.../rm-bridge-suspension-bridge-modeling

communities.bentley.com/.../rm-bridge-arch-truss-and-suspension-modeling