Prestressed cable-stayed bridges are prone to crack due to various loads and temperatures. The traditional finite element method can not accurately describe the generation and expansion of cracks. In this paper, numerical simulation of a prestressed bridge panel is carried out to analyze the origin and long-term evolution of cracks based on the continuousdiscontinuous element method and multi physical field coupling. The results show that the gravity of the bridge panel itself, the cable force and the degree of bending and straightness of the bridge are not the main reasons for cracks of the bridge and that the prestress of the reinforcement hinders the cracks to a certain extent. The long-term cyclic effect of temperature plays a leading role in the initial crack of the bridge panels, and repeated loading of vehicle dynamic load in the later period makes the initial cracks further expand. The research results of this paper can provide a certain theoretical reference for analyzing causes of
bridge cracks.

prestressed cable-stayed bridge  /  CDEM  /  multiple physical field coupling