Comprehensive cable system services: from installation to maintenance

With decades of expertise in structural cable engineering, we offer far more than just the design, manufacturing, and delivery of cable systems. Our commitment extends to ensuring that every installation and tensioning operation is executed with the highest standards of safety, precision, and planning. Our dedicated team of site technicians is backed by advanced construction engineering know-how and a fleet of industry-leading installation and tensioning equipment. Whether you're working on a new build or upgrading an existing structure, our experts are ready to support your project with both standard and customized solutions tailored to your site’s unique conditions and constraints. Once installed, cable systems require regular inspection and maintenance to ensure long-term performance and safety. Factors such as design load cycles and environmental conditions are carefully considered in our maintenance planning. Our technicians are available for inspect and maintain your cable systems—often a critical component of your structure’s integrity.

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Our services at a glance

Cable installation and tensioning

Proper assembly, installation, and tensioning of cable assemblies on-site are critical to ensuring cables are installed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with specifications. We aim to engage from the earliest stages of the project design process to ensure all options and constraints are thoroughly evaluated.

With extensive experience, Teufelberger-Redaelli can offer multiple installation and tensioning solutions tailored to each project. Early engagement with our site engineering team fosters a collaborative approach with both the design and construction teams, helping to fulfill the client’s vision while avoiding costly errors and remedial work.

Our specialist expertise includes:

  • Design support for cable systems.

  • Evaluation of installation options, including on-site component layout and pre-assembly planning.

  • Pre-assembly of cable assemblies and connections, such as clamps and spacers.

  • Specification, planning, and mobilization of cable tensioning equipment.

  • Scheduling support for site activities related to cable installation.

  • Guidance on tensioning sequences and stage options.

  • Execution of cable tensioning—individually, in pairs, in groups, or through complex synchronized lift programs.

  • Final force verification and delivery of a comprehensive tensioning report.

  • Application of ancillary cable items, including Teufelberger-Redaelli Tensocoat corrosion protection and other approved coating systems.

  • Support with demobilization of labor, equipment, and packaging.

  • Planning, mobilization, and execution of cable de-tensioning from existing structures, including cable nets.

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Cable Clamps

We regularly assist with the design, manufacture, and installation of multiple cable clamp options to suit the structure’s application. We prepare and execute cable clamp designs in accordance with International Standards, including EN 1993-1-11, EN 1993-1-1, and EN 1993-1-8. Depending on the application, we either machine clamps from solid steel sections or manufacture them as customized cast steel pieces. Each clamp has its own unique friction coefficient value, based on the design and application of the structure. Thanks to our detailed knowledge and historical test data, we select an appropriate friction value for each specific clamp application. We can also design spacer clamps to fit cable intersections with different inclination angles between the cable axes, ensuring they suit each specific structure’s design.
Particular attention is given to ensure all clamp types are designed to an optimum and adequate geometrical shape including rounded edges and with a specific bolt tensioning procedure. NDT tests can be performed on request.

Cable vibration information

Cables used in tensile structure applications typically have a relatively small cross-sectional area, a light mass, and lack bending stiffness. As a result, these structural elements can be sensitive to vibrations depending on the in-service load case and the natural harmonic frequencies of the overall structure. While there are various cable vibration mechanisms, the two most common can be broadly grouped into those generated by wind and those related to the loading of the structure. We can adopt several countermeasures to prevent excessive wind-induced cable vibrations.

In general, longer cables are more susceptible to vibrations due to their larger wind exposure and lower damping values. We refer to EN 1993-1-11 for wind effects to be considered in the design of structures with tension components.

High frequency and low frequency dampers

We design dampers that can be applied to individual cables to increase structural damping and help suppress excessive wind-induced vibrations. We can test the cable system in a wind tunnel to investigate the risk of aerodynamic instability and determine the key parameters needed to design the damping system. An appropriate combination of high- and low-frequency dampers generally guarantees effective control of vortex-induced vibrations, which are among the most common oscillations and represent a serious risk for the cable’s long-term fatigue resistance

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Cable tension measurements with accelerometers

In certain circumstances, we can also use cable natural vibration frequencies to measure cable forces by means of accelerometers. This system is efficient, adaptable, and minimizes the time required to perform a lengthy and costly cable force survey.

The method allows us to estimate cable force based on the recorded signal by attaching an accelerometer to the cable and measuring the frequencies of cable excitation. The system is rapid and does not require mounting or dismantling unwieldy tensioning equipment. Cable axial loads are estimated considering the simply supported beam model subjected to axial tension. Using the corresponding analytical formulation, the key parameters to determine the tension from the natural frequency are the effective vibration length, the cable mass, and the cable bending stiffness. Please note, however, that it is not possible to employ this method if there are cable clamps intersecting along the length of the cable.

Inspection and maintenance services

Regular, carefully planned maintenance activities are essential to protect the long-term health of cable-supported structures. Depending on the type of structure, environmental conditions, and site access, we can prepare a cable maintenance plan e and the related recommended courses of action and support services. Depending on each service life stage, different types of control and activities are required, which include:

  • Basic visual observation

    In order to ensure consistent geometry and cable forces in all elements of the cable assembly (e.g., cables, sockets, and any ancillary items).

  • Visual inspection

    It is necessary when we need to verify the status of the cable corrosion protection system without interrupting the normal operations of the structure.

  • Simple inspection

    Important for assess the surface and external wire condition and the status of the corrosion protection. This includes measuring the thickness of the protection layers of the cable systems and checking the socket cone setting. It may also include dismantling, removing, and replacing the cable corrosion protection systems and may require special access to each of the cable components that are to be inspected.

  • Main inspection

    It is a comprehensive activities usually carried out in addition to the visual and simple inspection activities. This includes extended instrument checks for cable force measurement to verify the permanence of the prestressing condition, cable re-tensioning to guarantee the efficiency of the structure, a geometric topographic survey, dismantling or removal and replacement of corrosion protections or cable components, and special access to each of the cable components of the structural cable system.

Other inspection and maintenance activities can be defined specifically for each project.

Get in touch

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Whether technical questions, individual requirements, or product selection advice – we’re here to help. Our experts look forward to hearing from you.

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