Model Test and Crack Prediction for Stay Cable Anchor Zone in Pylon of Zhongxian Changjiang River Bridge

The main bridge of Zhongxian Changjiang River Bridge is a double-pylon and double-cable-plane cable-stayed bridge with span arrangement(205+460+205) m and the structural formation and stressing conditions of the stay cable anchor zone in pylon of the Bridge are complicated owing to the utilization of sharp radius(R=1.85 m) U-shaped prestressing tendons there.In this paper,the combined method of the full-scale sectional model test of the pylon and the spatial finite element analysis is used to investigate the actual working conditions of the anchor zone,assess the bearing capacity of the zone and eventually to study the stressing conditions and crack development laws of the zone.The results of the study have direct guidance to the construction of the Bridge.