Suspension Bridge Case Study 2022

Suspension bridge
Introduction
Bridge could be classified and structural elements that would allow easier passage of either
people or vehicles over obstacles like, water bodies, rough terrains and valleys by crossing the
obstacles using manmade or natural materials. Bridges have been used since the time
immemorial from the basic structures which could be accessed naturally to bridge construction
revolution that started from Ancient Rome and spread through other continents.
Suspension bridge
Suspension bridge is a type of bridge that comprises of deck that flexibly hung below cables that
suspends on suspenders that are vertical. The simple bridges of this type would be found in areas
that are mountainous where their vertical suspended cables that are mandated to carry deck’s
weight would be attached between towers. The arrangement would allow leveling of the deck.
The anchorage of the suspension cables would be done at the bridge’s end, since any applied
load on the bridge would be transformed to tension of the main cables. These main cables would
extend past the pillars to level supports of the deck, and continues further to connect with ground
anchors. Hangers which are vertical suspenders would support the roadways. In certain
conditions towers may be situated on canyon edge or bluff to allow road to directly proceed to
major span, or else there would be existence of two spans that would be running between the
highway and pair of pillars that would either be supported by truss bridge or suspender cables.
Types of suspension bridges
The deck of suspension bridges would be held in position by vertical hanging suspension cables.
Different techniques used and materials applied would make their design different as follows
(Çavda, 2012);
a. Simple suspension bridge
Type of suspension bridges that have neither piers nor towers their suspended cables are only
anchored at their own ends. Their decks are arched upward and downward and they have
additional handrail at their higher levels. The bridge only accommodates pedestrians and no
railroads and modern roads could be carried.
b. Suspension bridge
The bridge comprises of modern suspension designed. The bridge has towers where cables that
would hold the road deck originate. The deck’s weight would be transferred by the tensions on
cables to both the towers and ground through anchored cables. The bridge are designed to carry
both the light rail and heavy vehicle.

c. Under spanned
The deck of this type of suspension bridge is raised above the anchored of the main cables on
post
d. Stressed ribbon
The bridge is a variant improved simple suspension having rigid deck that lies on the cables that
are suspended that are fixed on the deck. The bridges are made up of concrete and are reinforced
by tensioned cables steel that are capable to carry traffic of vehicles.
e. Self-anchored
The main cables of this type of bridges are fixed at the deck’s end and not ground like other
suspended bridges that are constructed on unstable soils and elevated piers. Suspended cables
would be anchored at the complete designed deck.
Components of suspension bridges
Figure 1: components of suspension bridge (Serap et al., 2012)
The bridge would comprise basically of the following components, as shown in the figure above;
a. Deck
Decks are also known as roadways that would allow traffic rail, pedestrian and motorists to pass
over them. They deck are normally constructed out of concrete reinforced steel.
b. Steel cables

A steel cable suspends the roadway or decking, they are preferred over iron because steel is an
alloy that makes it stronger in compression and tension.
c. Suspenders
The suspenders are mandated on shaping the bridge and connecting the deck to cables of steel.
The absence suspenders would sway the roadways and would not be controlled, their used in in
reinforcing the deck more.
d. Towers
The steel weight of the cables normally would be transferred onto towers to help stand the
swaying of the bridge. The weight that tower would be supporting would be transferred to the
ground and this would reinforce more the feet of the tower and ensuring that the bridge would be
upright.
e. Anchorage block
The weight of the block are more than the weight of the cables that hold the deck because they
are design in a way that they need to withstand the roadway portion and also they are meant to
endure the weight of the traffic of vehicles that crosses the bridge throughout.
f. The tower’s foundation
The foundation would be expected to be secure since all the weight on the bridge is transferred
by the tower at its foundation. The depth of the foundation would always be considered to ensure
that the tower would not tilt and ensure that towers are vertical and able to withstand weight
transferred to them by the cables.
g. Truss
Trusses would found below the deck or roadways in order to support them. They also stiffen the
deck and reduce the chances of deck swaying vertically.