Bridging Capacity and Aerodynamic Challenge of Long-Span Suspension Bridges

As a human dream and an engineering challenge, the structural engineering of bridging larger obstacles has entered into a new era of crossing wide rivers and sea straits, for example, Messina Strait in Italy, Qiongzhou Strait in China, Tsugaru Strait in Japan, Gibraltar Strait linking European and African Continents, and so on. One of the most interesting challenges has been identified as bridging capacity limit of suspension bridges. Traditionally, bridging capacity is referring to longitudinal single bridge span, and the feasibility study shows that either a widely slotted deck or a narrowly slotted deck with vertical and horizontal stabilizers could provide a 5,000m span-length suspension bridge with high enough critical wind speed. With an innovative way to improve bridging capacity, the concept of continuous multiple main span scheme for crossing longer water body is proposed, in particular double main span suspension bridges, including Taizhou Yangtze River Bridge and Maanshan Yangtze River Bridge, both with two main spans of 1080m.