A STATIC AND DYNAMIC NONLINEAR BEHAVIOUR OF STEEL TOWERS OF LONG-SPAN SUSPENSION BRIDGES SUBJECT TO WIND AND EARTHQUAKE LOADINGS

The static ultimate strength analyses of the tower-cable system of Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge are performed for the investigations of the planar and spatial behaviour of the structures subject to a variety of the combinations of the vertical dead and live loads, and the horizontal wind loads both in the directions of perpendicular-to-bridge axis and bridge axis. The obtained ultimate loads based on three different loading paths are compared with the design loads specified in the current codes of huge towers. The nonlinear dynamic responses of the planar tower and tower-cable models are obtained to examine the safety of the superstructures of Akashi towers against horizontal ground motions of the 1940 El Centro record with variable amplitudes up to four times the design acceleration specified in the codes.