Full-Scale Bending Fatigue Tests on Stay Cables

Large-amplitude stay cable vibrations caused by light rain and relatively low winds have been observed in the past few years on numerous bridges around the world. Both long-span cable-stayed bridges in Texas, the Veterans Memorial Bridge near Port Arthur and the Fred Hartman Bridge near Houston, have experienced these wind and rain induced vibrations. Full-scale 32-ft stay cable specimens are tested in bending to determine the relationship between the cable vibrations and fatigue damage. The final goal of the project is to determine the magnitude of the fatigue damage to the stay cables caused by these vibrations.