To　reveal　the　collapse　mechanism　of　long　span　cable-stayed　bridges　under　the　strong　earthquake　excitation,　a　long　span　cable-stayed　bridge　was　selected　as　an　example,　the　explicit　integration　finite　element　model　for　the　bridge　was　built　up,　using　the　software　LS-DYNA　and　the　collapse　failure　of　the　bridge　under　the　strong　earthquake　excitation　before　and　after　the　viscous　dampers　and　auxiliary　piers　were　arranged　was　analyzed　and　studied.　The　results　of　the　analysis　and　study　indicate　that　in　the　process　of　the　collapse　of　the　bridge,　the　pylons　of　the　bridge　do　not　produce　the　plastic　hinges　and　the　ground　motion　action　having　the　long　predominant　period　can　more　easily　cause　the　collapse　of　the　bridge.　The　arrangement　of　the　viscous　dampers　at　the　connections　of　the　pylons　and　main　girder　and　the　adding　of　the　auxiliary　piers　to　the　bridge　can　enhance　the　earthquake　resistant　collapse　capacity　of　the　bridge,　of　which　the　way　of　the　arrangement　of　the　viscous　dampers　works　more　effectively.　In　accordance　with　the　study　herewith,　the　idea　of　the　3-stage　control　is　hence　proposed　for　the　collapse　resistant　design　of　the　cable-stayed　bridges.　©　2016,　Wuhan　Bridge　Research　Institute.　All　right　reserved.