Simulating a Cable System for Broken Pylons of Suspension Bridges to Prevent Bridge Failure from Eathquakes Using Houdini SideFX

Long-span bridges can be subject to collapse due to corrosion and natural events, such as earthquakes, that can cause severe damage afterwards. Many studies have looked into the different types of corrosion bridges experience as well as the tension and pressure earthquakes can inflict onto a bridge. The purpose of this study was to model a cable system that would support the lower part of a broken pylon of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge and simulate it through different types of earthquakes. It was hypothesized that the tension of the suspenders would decrease at least 10% and prevent the bridge from collapsing. Four earthquakes were simulated and tested on the bridge for 30 trials with or without the cable system. The results showed that the bridge could not withstand any of the earthquakes with and without the cable system. The simulation showed that despite the cable system delaying the bridge collapse, the suspenders around the midspan would still break due to the stress exerted on them, resulting in a chain reaction of other suspenders breaking due to taking on the stress of the broken suspender adjacent to it. Future research should focus on supporting the weight of the bridge deck instead of the pylons.