Occurrence probability of wind-rain-induced stay cable vibration

Wind-rain-induced vibration of stay cables in cable-stayed bridges has been increasingly concerned by engineering professions. This paper presents a framework for estimating occurrence probability of wind-rain-induced stay cable vibration to facilitate the engineering decision on the implementation of anti-vibration system. The proposed framework is founded on the statistical analysis of wind speed, wind direction and rainfall intensity and the theoretical analysis of occurrence range of wind-rain-induced stay cable vibration. The joint probability density function of wind speed and wind direction, and the probability density function of rainfall intensity are first obtained for the site of a bridge through the statistical analysis. The occurrence range of wind speed and wind direction for wind-rain-induced vibration of a stay cable greater than a vibration amplitude threshold value is then found based on a theoretical model recently developed. The occurrence probability and risk of wind-rain-induced stay cable vibration are finally calculated according to the probability theory. The practical use of the proposed framework is demonstrated in this paper by taking a typical stay cable in a real cable-stayed bridge as a case study.