A case study on the evaluation of the hanger rope for the Namhae Suspension Bridge

Namhae Bridge is the first suspension bridge in Korea and connects together Namhae Island and the southern part of mainland Korea. The bridge has a main span of 404m and two side spans of 128m. Recently the local office of the Ministry of Construction and Transportation (MOCT) has finished the repair design and repair works including the replacement of damaged hanger ropes after completing an in-depth inspection of this bridge in 2001. In relation to this works, the tensile test and investigation of the cross section of the removed ropes, using an optical microscope and structural tests, were performed. In this paper, the results are summarized in order to evaluate the quality of in-use hanger ropes. According to the summarized results, in spite of the corrosion of the clamped portions the hanger ropes seem to have suffered no important deterioration with respect to its mechanical properties. Based on the results of tests and inspections on the removed ropes, it is recommended that the rusty clamped portion of the hanger ropes should be cleaned and repainted and that the space between the rope and the cramp, where moisture can enter, should also should be sealed in order to preserve the in-use hangers.

• Introduction

• Inspection of the Removed Hanger Ropes

• The Laboratory Testing of the Removed Hanger Ropes

• Conclusion

• References