A　systematic　and　generic　procedure　for　the　determination　of　the　reasonable　finished　state　of　self-anchored　suspension　bridges　is　proposed,　the　realization　of　which　is　mainly　through　adjustment　of　the　hanger　tensions.　The　initial　hanger　tensions　are　first　obtained　through　an　iterative　analysis　by　combining　the　girder-tower-only　finite　element　(FE)　model　with　the　analytical　program　for　shape　finding　of　the　spatial　cable　system.　These　initial　hanger　tensions,　together　with　the　corresponding　cable　coordinates　and　internal　forces,　are　then　included　into　the　FE　model　of　the　total　bridge　system,　the　nonlinear　analysis　of　which　involves　the　optimization　technique.　Calculations　are　repeated　until　the　optimization　algorithm　converges　to　the　most　optimal　hanger　tensions　(i.e.　the　desired　reasonable　finished　bridge　state).　The　“temperature　rigid　arm”　is　introduced　to　offset　the　unavoidable　initial　deformations　of　the　girder　and　tower,　which　are　due　to　the　huge　axial　forces　originated　from　the　main　cable.　Moreover,　by　changing　the　stiffness　coefficient　K　in　the　girder-tower-only　FE　model,　the　stiffness　proportion　of　the　main　girder,　the　tower　or　the　cable　subsystem　in　the　whole　structural　system　could　be　adjusted　according　to　the　design　intentions.　The　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　method　is　examined　and　demonstrated　by　one　simple　tutorial　example　and　one　self-anchored　suspension　bridge.　©　2016,　Central　South　University　Press　and　Springer-Verlag　Berlin　Heidelberg.