WIRE RECOVERY LENGTH IN SUSPENSION
BRIDGE CABLE
(-)Abstract
A differential equation capable of describing the full-slip to no-slip
friction transition along a fractured wire in a parallel-wire strand experiencing
external hydrostatic pressure, by prestressed wrapping or intermittent cable bands,
has been developed. The model is based on a modified version of a previously
reported theoretical work in conjunction with well-established results in the field
of contact-stress theory. With some reasonable simplifying assumptions, closedform
solutions to the differential equation have been obtained that provide simple
means of estimating 'the wire-recovery (or development) length. Recovery length
is defined as the length measured from the fractured end of the.wire, in which the
wire will be able to carry its appropriate share of the axial load. The theory has
been developed for an idealized cable, and possible practical limitati(ins of the
model have been critically addressed. The present findings should prov\! useful as
a first step toward the development of appropriate discard criteria for parallel wire
cables used in, for example, suspension bridges.
