Determination of structural behavior of suspension bridges considering construction stage and time dependent material properties

In this thesis, it is aimed to perform the construction stage analysis of suspension bridges considering construction stage and time dependent material properties. For this purpose, Bosporus Suspension Bridge and Humber Suspension Bridge are selected as examples.Three main sections are considered in this thesis. In the first section of the thesis; background of structural behavior of suspension bridges, historical development of the construction of bridges, elements of suspension bridges, construction stage analysis methods, and formulation of these methods are represented. In the second section of the thesis, studies and findings from these studies are considered. Finite element models of Bosporus and Humber Bridge are constituted using SAP2000 program. Besides linear static analysis, the structural behavior of bridges are determined considering construction stage and time dependent material properties. Two different finite element analyses with and without construction stages are carried out and results are compared with each other. As analyses result, variation of displacements and internal forces such as bending moment, axial forces, and shear forces for the bridge deck and towers are given with detail. In the analysis, creep, shrinkage, and steel relaxation are considered as time dependent material properties. In the third section of the thesis; conclusions and some suggestions related to the thesis study are represented. Lastly, references and autobiography are represented.