A Comprehensive Review of the Mechanical Behavior of Suspension Bridge Tunnel-Type Anchorage

Abstract

The recent surge of interest towards the mechanical response of rock mass produced by tunnel-type anchorage (TTA) has generated a handful of theories and an array of empirical explorations on the topic. However, none of these have attempted to arrange the existing achievements in a systematic way. The present work puts forward an integrative framework laid out over three levels of explanation and practical approach, mechanical behavior, and calculation method of the ultimate pullout force to compare and integrate the existing findings in a meaningful way. First, it reviews the application of TTA in China and analyzes its future development trend. Then, it summarizes the research results of TTA in terms of load transfer characteristics, deformation characteristics, failure modes, and calculation of ultimate uplift resistance. Finally, it introduces four field model tests in soft rock (mainly mudstone formations), and some research results are obtained. Furthermore, it compares the mechanical behavior of TTA in hard rock strata and soft rock strata, highlighting the main factors affecting the stability of TTA in soft rock formation. This paper proposes a series of focused topics for future investigation that would allow deconstruction of the drivers and constraints of the development of TTA.

Mechanical Behavior of the Rock-Concrete Interface for a Bridge Anchorage Structure Using Discrete Element Method

“…Therefore, the anchorage is one of the most important structures of a suspension bridge. The anchorage can be basically categorized into the tunnel type anchorage [5] and the gravity anchorage [6], in which the gravity anchorage is the most used type. The gravity anchorage resists the vertical component of the cable tension force with its own weight and the horizontal component of the cable tension force with the friction between the anchorage concrete and the underlying rock mass [6][7][8].…”

“…The interaction between anchorage concrete and foundation rock mass, in general, is hardly considered because all the elements are assumed to be continuous in the FEM. Although certain effects have been made on the contact problems of gravity anchorage with theoretical solutions [5,15,16], numerical simulation [7,14] and model testing [17,18], systematic investigation work is not yet available.…”

Field Study on Deformation and Stress Characteristics of Large Open Caisson during Excavation in Deep Marine Soft Clay

“…Due to the poor geological conditions, it is easy to cause safety accidents in the construction process so that the safety of the open caisson excavation is a critical issue for the project [15,16]. Cases on excavation performance have been reported by many researchers around the world [17][18][19][20]. According to the previous research, field monitoring of soil pressure and internal force of structures are essential for engineers to verify the behaviors of the caisson foundation by analytical or numerical approaches [21].…”

Three-Dimensional Combined Finite-Discrete Element Modeling of Shear Fracture Process in Direct Shearing of Rough Concrete–Rock Joints

“…In a ground-anchored suspension bridge, the anchorage performs the function of supporting the tension force acting on the main cable. As one of the construction methods of anchorage, gravity-type anchorage (GTA) (see Figure 1) is widely used due to a variety of advantages such as simple mechanical configuration, ease of construction, and its vast applications [1]. The GTA resists the cable load via the weight of the anchorage structure itself, and this depends on the frictional resistance between the anchorages (concrete) and the foundation (rock).…”