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Abstract

Stay/suspension cables are crucial load-bearing and force-transmitting components in cable-supported bridge systems. As the service life of bridges increases, defects in these cables become increasingly prevalent, and some bridges built in earlier years face significant structural safety and durability risks. To study the defect distribution characteristics of stay/suspension cables, this paper investigated two long stay cables that had been in service for 21 years and subjected to environmental corrosion for the same duration. Through cable dissection, scanning electron microscopy (SEM ), and airtightness tests, the internal and external defects and their correlations were analyzed. The results show that the aging of the sheath exhibits a significant distribution pattern related to sunlight exposure. Window-patching repairs to the sheath may conceal through-thickness microcracks, and the risk of water ingress should be taken seriously. For long stay cables, the areas near water ingress points are not the most severely corroded, and along the cable length, the middle section of the cable exhibits the highest risk of severe corrosion. Radially, the outer layer of steel wires experiences the most severe corrosion, and the steel wires on the upper side of the cross-section are more severely corroded than those on the lower side. Even minor sheath damage can lead to corrosion of the internal steel wires of stay cables, which warrants serious attention. These findings provide a reference for defect prevention and performance evaluation of stay/suspension cables.

Publication Date

10-29-2026

DOI

10.14048/j.issn.1671-2579.2026.05.021

First Page

199

Last Page

212

Submission Date

October 2026

Reference

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