RESUMO
The overall objective of this task was to review and compare the methods currently in use for the desing of cable restrainers used to tietogether simple spans in multiple-span, simply-supported bridges and to recommend improvements which will provide better performance while maintaining ease and efficiency of desing. Two existing methods, one each developed by Caltrans and AASHTO, were compared and evaluated. Three new methods were also proposed and evaluated. All five procedures were found to be effective in preventing spans from unseating in most bridges. However, the authors recommend that the procedure known as the "proposed" method be used for future desing, as it provided the best overall performance under moderate-to-large earthquakes. A companion MCEER report, "Design Procedures for Hinge Restrainers and Hinge Seat Widht for Multiple-Frame Bridges," by R. Desroches and G.L. Fenves, MCEER-98-0013, provides similar evaluations and recommendations regarding the design of cable restrainers for multiple continuous span bridges
