Full-scale measurements of stay cable vibration

Significant vibration amplitudes in the main stays of cable-stayed bridges is a problem that has been observed frequently in the last decade. Often, this oscillation is associated with the simultaneous occurrence of wind and rain. Despite significant effort directed toward understanding the phenomenon, no analytical models yet exist for simulation purposes or to provide guidance to designers who desire to eliminate the problem. There have also been relatively few quantitative observations of this phenomenon at full scale. This paper presents selected data from two full-scale measurement programs that were designed to document the phenomenon over an extended period at full scale, and to assess the effectiveness of a proposed mechanical damper mitigation system.