2. Stress ribbon bridge is a tension member similar to a simple suspension
Bridge in many ways.
Pedestrian bridge
Economical, aesthetic, and almost maintenance free
Design of this bridge is very rare( around 50 bridges all over the
world)
Characterized by successive and complementary smooth curves
Catenary shape or funicular shape
5. Supports:
• Cables are pre-tensioned by anchoring into support structure, hence this
region is highly stressed.
• Performance may be improved by construction of:
i) flexible saddle
ii) parabolic haunch
iii) intermediate arch support
Stress Ribbon Bridge
6. Stress Ribbon Bridge
Simple support with constant section
Flexible saddle arrangement at support
Parabolic hunch arrangement at support
Stress ribbon supported by arch
7. Deck:
• Might be pre-fabricated or cast in-situ
• Slender
• Integrated with end and intermediate supporting construction
so as to work as a composite structure.
Stress Ribbon Bridge
10. Stress Ribbon Bridge
Levitation Stage:
I. Cables are hanged from supports
II. Pre cast segments are slid over the bearing tendons to desired position
III. Segments are jointed by cast in-situ composite slabs
Tg=Wt. of prestressing and bearing tendon
13. Stress Ribbon Bridge
Basic Stage:
I. Static analysis is done at this stage.
II. After sufficient hardening of joints, post tensioning is done by pre-stressing
tendons.
III. Effect of dead load, creep, shrinkage, temperature and pre-stressing are
determined.
IV. Shape at this stage determines the final sag in the bridge.
17. Advantages:
• Minimal environmental and visual impact
• Can be erected without falsework or shoring
• Minimal long-term maintenance is required
• Are highly desirable at place as shown below:
Stress Ribbon Bridge
18. Disadvantages:
• Large horizontal forces at the end and intermediate which
determines economy of bridge.
Remedy- i) construction of flexible member close to
supports
ii) widening of deck at the ends
iii) having an arch shaped intermediate support
• Danger of overturning and oscillations due to high span to width
ratio.
Remedy- i) increasing sag
ii) proper dynamic analysis
Stress Ribbon Bridge
19. Recent advances:
Innovative design uses unidirectional
solid carbon fibre cables (TSC).
• Unsupported spans were
significantly increased
• Supporting structure was
reduced
• Installation time and cost
were reduced by over 80%
Stress Ribbon Bridge
World's longest stress ribbon bridge in
Cuenca, Spain
20. Some important bridges in this category:
Stress Ribbon Bridge
Name Country Main Span
Rio Colorado Bridge Costa Rica 146 m
Lake Hodges Bridge USA 100.9 m
East Golf Cart Bridge USA 86.9 m
Rogue River Pedestrian Bridge USA 84.73 m
Aaresteg Mülimatt Switzerland 78 m
Glacis Bridge Germany 76 m
Aaresteg Rupperswil Switzerland 74.05 m
Phyllis J. Tilley Memorial Bridge USA 49.5 m
Kent Messenger Millennium Bridge United Kingdom 48 m
Pùnt da Suransuns Switzerland 40 m
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Editor's Notes
Arch serves as a saddle from which the stress ribbon rise during post tensioning