This study was conducted in response to State transportation departments’ requests to develop improved design guidance for mitigation of excessive cable vibrations on cable-stayed bridges. Previous research has shown that cable shape can play an important role in the aerodynamic stability of cables. This study included the development of a unique robotic device to climb and scan the out-of-roundness of in-service bridge stay cables. The study also included the use of this device to scan and document the shapes of representative stay cables from 11 major cable-stayed bridges located in the eastern United States.
 

This report will be of interest to bridge engineers, wind engineers, and consultants involved in the design of cable-stayed bridges.

Recommended citation: Federal Highway Administration, Development of a Cable Robot and Measurement of Stay Cable Roundness (Washington, DC: 2024) https://doi.org/10.21949/1521476