GUIDELINES FOR INSPECTION AND STRENGTH EVALUATION OF SUSPENSION BRIDGE PARALLEL-WIRE CABLES

There are nearly 50 major suspension bridges in the United States, and more than half of them are more than 50 years old. To date there has been no reliable and nationally recognized procedure, either practical or theoretical, to inspect and evaluate the condition and strength of suspension bridge parallel-wire cables. This report contains recommendations for the inspection and strength evaluation of suspension bridge parallel-wire cables. It will be of immediate interest to suspension bridge owners and suspension bridge main cable inspectors. An accompanying CD-ROM contains a full account of the research leading to the development of the recommended guidelines and provides derivations of all equations.