Open Access

ARTICLE

Life-Cycle and Cost Assessment of Suspension Bridge Hangers Considering Traffic Loads and Maintenance Strategies

Chao Guo¹, Chao Deng², Xing Bai³, Ziyuan Fan⁴, Jintao Li², Yuan Ren^2,*

1 CCCC Highway Bridges National Engineering Research Centre Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100011, China
2 School of Transportation, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
3 Guangzhou Communications Investment Group Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, 510320, China
4 School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China

* Corresponding Author: Yuan Ren. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Advances in Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Applications for Bridge Structures)

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring 2026, 20(2), 13 https://doi.org/10.32604/sdhm.2025.075363

Received 30 October 2025; Accepted 29 December 2025; Issue published 31 March 2026

Abstract

Hangers play a crucial role in transferring loads in suspension bridges, yet their condition often deteriorates faster than expected due to corrosion and fatigue effects. Premature hanger failure poses serious risks to bridge safety and results in significant economic loss due to frequent replacement and traffic interruption. To address these challenges, this study proposes an integrated framework to evaluate the life-cycle safety and operational cost of bridge hangers. Traffic data obtained from Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) systems are used to simulate dynamic hanger responses. A wire-to-hanger deterioration model is then employed to capture the time-dependent interaction between corrosion and fatigue under varying environmental conditions. The failure probability of hangers is incorporated into a cost model that accounts for inspection, maintenance, replacement, and traffic disruptions associated with failure. A case study of the Jiangyin Yangtze River Bridge is conducted based on its WIM data and inspection records. The simulation results show that corrosion-fatigue interaction significantly accelerates hanger degradation. However, timely and effective maintenance measures including anchorage dehumidification can extend service life and reduce total operational costs. The proposed framework provides a practical tool for designing cost-effective maintenance strategies and improving the long-term performance of suspension bridge hangers.

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Keywords

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