Nonlinear properties of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic stay cables

Based on catenary theory, taking stay cables of Sutong Yangtze Bridge with the main span of 1088 m as research objects, this paper compares the nonlinear properties between high-strength wire stay cables and carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP). Studies show that because of weight reduction, the sag of CFRP cable and the losses of cable stiffness and bearing efficiency reduce greatly, especially for long cable. So, CFRP stay cables have obvious advantages in super long span cable-stayed bridges.