Recent advances on inspection, monitoring, and assessment of bridge cables

Cables are critical and vulnerable components of long-span cable-supported bridges, providing essential support and integrity to ensure bridge safety. Bridge cables are susceptible to damage over time due to environmental factors and external loads, and nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) technologies are usually employed for early detection and continuous monitoring of these potential issues, enabling scientific management and safe operation of bridges. This review presents a comprehensive understanding and recent advances on the inspection, monitoring, and assessment of bridge cables, including common types of cable damages, various detection technologies for both surface and internal damage, as well as methods for cable force measurement and condition assessment. The challenges and future research are also presented. This review could present vital insights for bridge engineers, researchers, and stakeholders, providing a foundation for future research and innovation in the inspection, maintenance, and management of bridge cables.