Investigation of the dynamic behaviour of cable - stayed bridges with respect to the earthquake and traffic loads

In this study, the effects of earthquake and traffic loadings on cable - stayed bridges are investigated and the results obtained from the analyses are compared. While the multi support and uniform ground motion applications are considered as earthquake loadings, the moving traffic loading and the uniform distributed static loading applications are considered as traffic loadings for the solution of the 3D finite element modal of the bridge. Depending on the analyses results obtained for the acceleration motions recorded as two diffirent soil conditions, the most critical earthquake and traffic loadings are determined and the required analysis are conducted considering the earthquake and traffic loading combinations. The results show that the multi support and moving traffic loadings are more critical for cable stayed bridges. On the other hand, it should be also underlined that the earthquake and traffic loadings should be consedered together while designing cable - stayed bridges.Key Words : Cable - Stayed Bridges, Multi Support Excitation, Traffic Loading