A transverse vibration suppression device for erecting a main cable strand of a suspension bridge in a strong wind environment

Abstract

The application discloses a transverse vibration suppression device for erecting a main cable strand of a suspension bridge in a strong wind environment, which comprises two groups of support column assemblies arranged transversely at intervals along a catwalk; the support column assemblies are vertically telescopic structures, and their fixed ends are fixed to the catwalk; a suppression position frame is arranged between the two groups of support column assemblies; the suppression position frame comprises a bottom plate and end plates arranged on both sides of the bottom plate; the two ends of the bottom plate are slidably connected with the corresponding end plates; the two ends of the bottom plate are connected with the movable ends of the support column assemblies on the same side through vertical self-adapting mechanisms; a plurality of partition plates are arranged on the bottom plate at intervals along the catwalk transversely; limit grooves for the main cable strand to pass through are formed between the two adjacent partition plates and between the partition plates on both sides and the corresponding end plates; and the end plates are connected with the movable ends of the support column assemblies on the same side through damping dissipation mechanisms. The application can effectively suppress the large transverse vibration of the cable strand, dissipate energy through the damping mechanism, and automatically adapt to the height change of the cable strand.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vibration suppression technology for main cables of suspension bridges. More specifically, this invention relates to a lateral vibration suppression device for the erection of main cable strands of suspension bridges in windy conditions. Background Technology

[0002] The main construction methods for suspension bridge main cables include the precast parallel wire strand erection (PPWS) method and the aerial stranding (AS) method. The former is the preferred method in my country due to its significant advantages in construction efficiency, quality control, economy, and structural adaptability. In the traditional PPWS method, the strands generally require alignment adjustments using the layer spacing method under relatively stable nighttime temperatures. However, in the construction of long-span suspension bridges, especially in windy conditions, the freely suspended main cable strands are prone to large-scale lateral swaying. This vibration not only severely interferes with measurement accuracy, leading to difficulties in cable adjustment and delays in the construction period, but also poses significant safety hazards to construction workers on the catwalk. To address this problem, existing technologies have attempted a combination of "positioning device + V-shaped retainer" to constrain strand displacement using the overall stiffness of the catwalk. However, this solution has significant drawbacks: (1) The contradiction between stiffness and adaptability: The stiffness of the restraint device is limited, and the restraint effect drops sharply when encountering strong winds; if the stiffness is increased indiscriminately, it will become a rigid collision, lacking an effective energy dissipation mechanism, which leads to an increased risk of structural fatigue.

[0003] (2) Lack of damping energy dissipation: Traditional damping devices are essentially rigid limiters and cannot effectively dissipate vibration energy. The repeated rigid collisions between the cable strands and the device not only generate huge noise, but also easily damage the protective layer and steel wires on the surface of the cable strands, affecting the service life of the main cable.

[0004] (2) Difficulty in vertical adjustment: The height adjustment of the V-type retainer usually requires manual intervention and complex mechanical adjustment. It cannot automatically adapt to the vertical elevation changes caused by the sag during the erection and adjustment of the cable strands, resulting in the device exerting unfavorable vertical constraints on the cable strands. It may even require repeated installation and disassembly, resulting in low construction efficiency.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a transverse vibration suppression device that combines high stiffness support, damping energy dissipation, and vertical adaptive functions to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One object of the present invention is to solve at least the above-mentioned problems and to provide at least the advantages that will be described later.

[0007] To achieve these objectives and other advantages according to the present invention, a lateral vibration damping device is provided for the erection of the main cable strands of a suspension bridge in high wind conditions, disposed on a catwalk for erecting the main cable strands of the suspension bridge, the lateral vibration damping device comprising: Two sets of support column assemblies are arranged laterally at intervals along the cat walkway; the support column assembly is a vertical telescopic structure, and its fixed end is fixed to the cat walkway. A positioning frame is located between two sets of support column assemblies. The positioning frame includes a base plate and end plates on both sides of the base plate. The two ends of the base plate are slidably connected to the corresponding end plates so that the base plate can slide vertically along the end plates. The two ends of the base plate are respectively connected to the movable ends of the support column assemblies on the same side through a vertical adaptive mechanism. The vertical adaptive mechanism is used to adaptively adjust the height of the base plate according to the vertical elevation change of the main cable strand. Multiple partitions are arranged laterally along the catwalk on the base plate. Limiting grooves for the main cable strand to pass through are formed between two adjacent partitions and between the partitions on both sides and the corresponding end plates. The end plates are connected to the movable ends of the support column assemblies on the same side through a damping dissipation mechanism. The damping dissipation mechanism is used to dissipate the lateral vibration energy of the positioning frame.

[0008] Preferably, the damping dissipation mechanism includes a mating male boot and a female boot, the male boot being fixed to the side of the movable end of the support column assembly facing the end plate; the female boot being fixed to the end plate; the male boot being inserted into the female boot, and a friction pad being provided on its outer surface that contacts the female boot.

[0009] Preferably, the friction pad is a tetrafluoroethylene plate filled with carbon fiber or a phenolic resin-based friction pad.

[0010] Preferably, the vertical adaptive mechanism includes a spring balancer and a positioning frame pulley; one end of the spring balancer is connected to the top of the movable end of the support column assembly, and the other end is connected to the end of the base plate of the positioning frame; a pair of positioning frame pulleys are respectively provided at both ends of the base plate, and the pair of positioning frame pulleys are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the end plate on the same side along the longitudinal direction of the catwalk, and are in rolling contact with the end plate.

[0011] Preferably, wear-resistant layers are provided on both sides of the partition and on the side of the end plate facing the limiting groove, and the wear-resistant layers are composed of high-strength rubber pads and PTFE plates.

[0012] Preferably, the support column assembly includes an upper column and a lower column; the lower end of the upper column is inserted into the lower column; the bottom of the lower column is fixed to the cat walkway, and its upper end has an adjustment groove that runs longitudinally through the cat walkway; the lower end of the upper column has multiple bolt holes that run longitudinally through the cat walkway; the upper column and the lower column are connected by bolts passing through the adjustment groove and the bolt holes.

[0013] Preferably, the supporting column assembly is further provided with a reinforcing structure on both sides along the longitudinal direction of the catwalk. The reinforcing structure includes a small longitudinal beam fixedly connected to the lower end of the lower column and an inclined brace connecting the lower column and the small longitudinal beam.

[0014] Preferably, the width of the limiting groove along the catwalk is 2 to 3 times the diameter of the main cable strand.

[0015] The present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: 1. The transverse vibration damping device provided by the present invention, by being arranged above the transverse passage of the catwalk in each span of the suspension bridge, the partition, end plate and damping dissipation mechanism in the device can constrain the transverse vibration of the main cable strand at multiple sections in each span, thereby achieving the vibration damping effect; and effectively buffers the collision impact of the cable strand, greatly reducing the risk of damage to the cable strand due to repeated rigid collisions.

[0016] 2. The transverse vibration damping device provided by the present invention achieves adaptive adjustment of the vertical height of the base plate through the design of the spring balancer and the damping frame pulley, completely eliminating the device's constraint on the vertical deformation of the cable strands, fully adapting to the needs of the constantly changing cable strand elevation during PPWS method construction, and eliminating the need for secondary height adjustment or repeated installation and dismantling of the device during the entire cable adjustment process, thus significantly improving construction efficiency.

[0017] 3. The transverse vibration damping device provided by the present invention has sufficient transverse and longitudinal stiffness, which can ensure the safety and stability of the structure itself when the cable strands generate large transverse vibrations and repeatedly collide with the structure in a strong wind environment.

[0018] Other advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will become apparent in part from the following description, and in part from those skilled in the art through study and practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the transverse vibration damping device for the erection of main cable strands of a suspension bridge in a high-wind environment, as described in this invention. Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of section AA; Figure 3 for Figure 1Schematic diagram of the structure at section BB; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the damping dissipation mechanism described in this invention; Markings in the diagram: 1-Upper column; 2-Spring balancer; 3-Baffle; 4-End plate; 5-Damping dissipation mechanism; 51-Male boot head; 52-Female boot head; 6-Adjusting groove; 7-Base plate lifting lug; 8-Base plate; 9-Pulley pulley; 10-Bolt; 11-Lower column; 12-Catway; 13-Small longitudinal beam; 14-Diagonal brace. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can implement it based on the description.

[0021] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the experimental methods described in the following embodiments are all conventional methods, and the reagents and materials described are all commercially available unless otherwise specified. In the description of this invention, the terms "lateral", "longitudinal", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0022] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the present invention provides a lateral vibration damping device for the erection of the main cable strands of a suspension bridge in high wind conditions. The device is installed on the catwalk 12 for erecting the main cable strands of the suspension bridge. The lateral vibration damping device includes: Two sets of support column assemblies are arranged laterally at intervals along the cat walkway 12; the support column assembly is a vertical telescopic structure, and its fixed end is fixed to the cat walkway 12. A positioning frame is located between two sets of support column assemblies. The positioning frame includes a base plate 8 and end plates 4 on both sides of the base plate 8. The two ends of the base plate 8 are slidably connected to the corresponding end plates 4, so that the base plate 8 can slide vertically along the end plates 4. The two ends of the base plate 8 are respectively connected to the movable ends of the support column assemblies on the same side through a vertical adaptive mechanism. The vertical adaptive mechanism is used to adaptively adjust the height of the base plate 8 according to the vertical elevation change of the main cable strand. Multiple partitions 3 are arranged laterally along the catwalk 12 on the base plate 8. Limiting grooves for the main cable strand to pass through are formed between two adjacent partitions 3 and between the partitions 3 on both sides and the corresponding end plates 4. The end plates 4 are connected to the movable ends of the support column assemblies on the same side through a damping dissipation mechanism 5. The damping dissipation mechanism 5 is used to dissipate the lateral vibration energy of the positioning frame.

[0023] In this technical solution, the lateral vibration damping device includes two sets of support column assemblies, a damping frame, a damping dissipation mechanism 5, and a vertical adaptive mechanism. The support column assembly is the main load-bearing structure and the basis for height adjustment; its bottom is fixed to the transverse channel beam of the catwalk 12 by bolts or welding. The damping frame is the actuator that directly contacts the cable strands. The base plate 8 is horizontally set, with its two ends slidably connected to two end plates 4, allowing it to slide freely vertically relative to the end plates 4 without being constrained by their verticality. The damping dissipation mechanism 5 is the core of the flexible vibration damping of this invention. When strong winds cause the cable strands to sway laterally, the cable strands push the damping frame to move laterally as a whole. At this time, the damping dissipation mechanism 5 converts the mechanical energy of the vibration into heat energy, thereby achieving efficient damping dissipation and forcing the vibration to decay rapidly. Furthermore, by setting the partition 3, the wide cross-section originally composed of dozens or even hundreds of cable strands is divided into several limiting grooves, effectively preventing cable strand disorder and overlapping. Compared with placing all cable strands in a large groove, which would cause large overall swaying, the grouped cable strands have a moderate weight and can more effectively drive the damping dissipation mechanism 5 to do work when lateral vibration occurs. The vertical adaptive mechanism is used to release the vertical constraints on the cable strands, ensuring the vertical degree of freedom of the cable strands during the cable adjustment process and avoiding vertical rigid contact between the cable strands and the positioning frame.

[0024] In another technical solution, the damping dissipation mechanism 5 includes a mating male boot head 51 and a female boot head 52. The male boot head 51 is fixed to the side of the movable end of the support column assembly facing the end plate 4; the female boot head 52 is correspondingly fixed to the end plate 4; the male boot head 51 is inserted into the female boot head 52, and its outer surface in contact with the female boot head 52 is provided with a friction pad.

[0025] Furthermore, the friction pad is a tetrafluoroethylene plate filled with carbon fiber or a phenolic resin-based friction pad.

[0026] When strong winds cause the cable strands to sway laterally, the friction plates on the male end of the boot 51 and the inner surface of the female end of the boot 52 generate compression and relative sliding friction. Through molecular friction and surface friction within the material, the mechanical energy of the vibration is converted into heat energy, forcing the vibration to decay rapidly. This acts as a simple damper, reducing the vibration amplitude of the end plate 4, buffering the impact of the cable strands, reducing the frequency of repeated collisions of the cable strands, and ultimately mitigating the damage to the cable strands caused by the positioning frame.

[0027] In another technical solution, the vertical adaptive mechanism includes a spring balancer 2 and a positioning frame pulley 9. One end of the spring balancer 2 is connected to the top of the movable end of the support column assembly, and the other end is connected to the end of the base plate 8 of the positioning frame. A pair of positioning frame pulleys 9 are respectively provided at both ends of the base plate 8. The pair of positioning frame pulleys 9 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the end plate 4 along the longitudinal direction of the catwalk on the same side, and are in rolling contact with the end plate 4. Specifically, the housing end of the spring balancer 2 is fixedly connected to the top of the upper column 1 of the support column assembly, and its coiled spring rope end is fixed downwards to the base plate lug 7 at the end of the base plate 8, providing a constant upward suspension force for the positioning frame, while allowing it to move downwards under gravity or external force. The two pairs of positioning frame pulleys 9 ensure smooth and stable vertical movement of the positioning frame without jamming. When the sag of the cable strand increases due to cable adjustment, the bottom of the cable strand contacts the base plate 8, overcoming part of the tension of the spring balancer 2, and driving the base plate 8 to slide smoothly downward along the end plate 4, always maintaining a non-rigid contact state with the cable strand, thus achieving adaptive matching to changes in the elevation of the cable strand.

[0028] In another technical solution, wear-resistant layers are provided on both sides of the partition 3 and on the side of the end plate 4 facing the limiting groove. These wear-resistant layers are composed of a high-strength rubber pad and a PTFE plate laminated together along their thickness. In the wear-resistant layer, the high-strength rubber pad is positioned close to the partition 3 or the end plate 4, and the PTFE plate is positioned close to the strand side. Specifically, an array of blind holes or cross-shaped grooves can be machined on the side of the PTFE plate that contacts the high-strength rubber pad, and an adhesive can be applied. The rubber pad material (such as neoprene rubber CR or natural rubber NR, with a Shore hardness of approximately 50-70 HA) is heated and pressurized in a mold for vulcanization. The rubber flows and fills the blind holes / grooves of the PTFE plate, ultimately curing into a non-peelable composite plate. This is then fixed to the partition 3 or the end plate 4 with bolts and pressure strips. Alternatively, a special structural adhesive for PTFE plates can be used to bond the rubber pad surface, and then a contact adhesive can be used to attach the rubber surface to the partition 3 or the end plate 4. The impact load of the cable strand swinging laterally is first reduced by the PTFE plate with its low coefficient of friction to reduce sliding resistance, while the rubber pad behind it absorbs the collision energy through elastic compression deformation. The two work together to achieve a composite protective effect of low friction reduction and soft elastic buffering, avoiding hard damage to the surface of the cable strand.

[0029] In another technical solution, the support column assembly includes an upper column 1 and a lower column 11. The lower end of the upper column 1 is inserted into the lower column 11. The bottom of the lower column 11 is fixed to the catwalk 12, and its upper end has an adjustment groove 6 extending longitudinally along the catwalk 12. The lower end of the upper column 1 has multiple bolt holes extending longitudinally along the catwalk 12. The upper column 1 and the lower column 11 are connected by bolts 10 passing through the adjustment groove 6 and the bolt holes. The adjustment groove 6 is vertically elongated. By selecting different bolt holes to fit with the adjustment groove 6 and tightening with bolts 10 and nuts, the vertical height of the upper column 1 relative to the lower column 11 can be adjusted to adapt to different positions and stages of the main cable's theoretical elevation.

[0030] Furthermore, to ensure the overall rigidity of the device, the supporting column assemblies on both sides are respectively equipped with reinforcement structures along the longitudinal direction of the catwalk. The reinforcement structures include small longitudinal beams 13 fixedly connected to the lower end of the lower column and diagonal braces 14 inclined between the lower column 11 and the small longitudinal beams 13. The lower column 11, the small longitudinal beams 13, and the diagonal braces 14 form a stable triangular reinforcement structure. This reinforcement structure effectively resists the load generated by the cable strand impact, preventing the device from overturning or undergoing excessive deformation.

[0031] In another technical solution, the width of the limiting groove along the catwalk 12 is 2 to 3 times the diameter of the main cable strand. At this width, the strand has sufficient initial clearance to avoid static friction interference, and can contact the partition 3 to activate the damping mechanism under moderate wind speeds. This solves the problem of lightweight strands being difficult to dampen, and also prevents coupling resonance of the entire cross-section of the strands through group isolation, achieving efficient and stable vibration suppression throughout the main cable erection process.

[0032] In use, multiple transverse vibration damping devices are arranged longitudinally along the catwalk 12, and the specific implementation process is as follows: First, at each span of the transverse passage of the catwalk 12 of the suspension bridge, the fixed part of the transverse vibration damping device is installed. That is, the lower column 11 is firmly fixed to the crossbeam of the catwalk 12 with high-strength bolts 10, and then the small longitudinal beams 13 and diagonal braces 14 connecting each lower column 11 are installed to form a stable base.

[0033] Secondly, based on the theoretical elevation of the reference cable strand in this span obtained from the design calculations, ensure that the bottom of the reference cable strand is approximately 2cm higher than the base plate of the support frame. By adjusting the relative positions of the upper column 1 and the lower column 11 (i.e., selecting the matching position of the adjustment groove 6 and the bolt hole), the height of the upper column 1 is locked, so that the device reaches the preset initial height.

[0034] Next, the assembly is carried out. The upper column 1, the positioning frame, the damping dissipation mechanism 5 (the male boot end 51 and the female boot end 52 are aligned), and the vertical adaptive mechanism (the spring balancer 2 is installed and connected to the base plate lifting lug 7, and the positioning frame pulley 9 is installed) are assembled in sequence.

[0035] Subsequently, the reference cable strand is pulled through the central limiting slot of each lateral vibration damping device. After pulling, the reference cable strand is aligned according to standard procedures. During this process, if strong winds occur and the cable strand sways, the damping and dissipation mechanism 5 effectively suppresses the vibration. As the cable strand's sag is adjusted, its elevation decreases, naturally contacting and pressing down on the base plate 8, triggering the vertical adaptive mechanism. There is no vertical constraint throughout the process. After the reference cable strand is erected, the height of the base plate of the damping frame at each device is checked to ensure it meets the requirements, and the elevation of the upper column 1 or the base plate of the damping frame is adjusted according to the actual situation. Then, following the erection process of the reference cable strand, the remaining main cable strands are pulled one by one, passing through the corresponding limiting slots, and the alignment of each cable strand is adjusted. During this process, each lateral vibration damping device continues to play a vibration damping role.

[0036] Finally, after all the main cable strands of the bridge have been erected and the final alignment adjustment has been completed, the lateral vibration damping devices for each span will be removed.

[0037] Although embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed above, they are not limited to the applications listed in the specification and embodiments. They can be applied to various fields suitable for the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other modifications can be easily made. Therefore, without departing from the general concept defined by the claims and their equivalents, the present invention is not limited to the specific details and illustrations shown and described herein.

Claims

1. A lateral vibration damping device for erecting the main cable strands of a suspension bridge in high wind conditions, installed on the catwalk for erecting the main cable strands of the suspension bridge, characterized in that, The transverse vibration damping device includes: Two sets of support column assemblies are arranged laterally at intervals along the cat walkway; the support column assembly is a vertical telescopic structure, and its fixed end is fixed to the cat walkway. A positioning frame is located between two sets of support column assemblies. The positioning frame includes a base plate and end plates on both sides of the base plate. The two ends of the base plate are slidably connected to the corresponding end plates so that the base plate can slide vertically along the end plates. The two ends of the base plate are respectively connected to the movable ends of the support column assemblies on the same side through a vertical adaptive mechanism. The vertical adaptive mechanism is used to adaptively adjust the height of the base plate according to the vertical elevation change of the main cable strand. Multiple partitions are arranged laterally along the catwalk on the base plate. Limiting grooves for the main cable strand to pass through are formed between two adjacent partitions and between the partitions on both sides and the corresponding end plates. The end plates are connected to the movable ends of the support column assemblies on the same side through a damping dissipation mechanism. The damping dissipation mechanism is used to dissipate the lateral vibration energy of the positioning frame.

2. The lateral vibration damping device for the erection of main cable strands of a suspension bridge in high wind conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The damping dissipation mechanism includes a mating male boot and a female boot. The male boot is fixed to the side of the movable end of the support column assembly facing the end plate. The female boot is correspondingly fixed to the end plate. The male boot is inserted into the female boot, and its outer surface in contact with the female boot is provided with a friction pad.

3. The lateral vibration damping device for the erection of main cable strands of a suspension bridge in high wind conditions as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The friction pad is a tetrafluoroethylene plate filled with carbon fiber or a phenolic resin-based friction pad.

4. The lateral vibration damping device for the erection of main cable strands of a suspension bridge in high wind conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The vertical adaptive mechanism includes a spring balancer and a positioning frame pulley; one end of the spring balancer is connected to the top of the movable end of the support column assembly, and the other end is connected to the end of the base plate of the positioning frame; a pair of positioning frame pulleys are respectively provided at both ends of the base plate, and the pair of positioning frame pulleys are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the end plate on the same side along the longitudinal direction of the cat walkway, and are in rolling contact with the end plate.

5. The lateral vibration damping device for the erection of main cable strands of a suspension bridge in high wind conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Wear-resistant layers are provided on both sides of the partition and on the side of the end plate facing the limiting groove. The wear-resistant layers are composed of high-strength rubber pads and PTFE plates.

6. The lateral vibration damping device for the erection of main cable strands of a suspension bridge in high wind conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The support column assembly includes an upper column and a lower column; the lower end of the upper column is inserted into the lower column; the bottom of the lower column is fixed to the cat walkway, and its upper end has an adjustment groove that runs longitudinally through the cat walkway; the lower end of the upper column has multiple bolt holes that run longitudinally through the cat walkway; the upper column and the lower column are connected by bolts passing through the adjustment groove and the bolt holes.

7. The lateral vibration damping device for the erection of main cable strands of a suspension bridge in high wind conditions as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The supporting column assembly is also provided with a reinforcement structure on both sides along the longitudinal direction of the catwalk. The reinforcement structure includes a small longitudinal beam fixedly connected to the lower end of the lower column and an inclined brace connecting the lower column and the small longitudinal beam.

8. The lateral vibration damping device for the erection of main cable strands of a suspension bridge in high wind conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the limiting groove along the catwalk is 2 to 3 times the diameter of the main cable strand.

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