Suspension bridge

Presented by: Ngooi Wan Zhe

 Introduction of suspension bridge
• suspension bridge is a type of bridge which is built by suspending the roadway from cables
attached to a master cable which runs above the length of the bridge.

• The design of a suspension bridge is simple and straightforward, and also takes advantage of
several techniques to distribute the weight of the bridge safely and evenly.

• The first modern examples of this type of bridge were built in the early 19 th century.
Components of the suspension bridge

Suspender cables : similar to the main cable but less thick

Tower : towers are part of the suspension bridge where the cables are attached
Deck : The deck is the main area of the bridge where vehicles and people travel. This part of
the bridge is made up of multiple steel trusses and also is the span of the bridge.
Main cables : refer to the cable that runs along the top part of the suspension bridge and anchored
at the ends
Anchorage : It is a part where the main cables are attached to the ends of the bridge
Differences between cable stayed bridges and suspension bridges

Cable stay bridge Suspension bridge

• In cable stay bridge, straight cables
transfer deck loads directly to the pylon
• Shorter spans
• In suspension bridge, there are main cables that
carry vertical cables. These vertical cables behave as
restraints for the deck and transfer deck loads to the
main cables
• Longer spans

• Design and construction are easier • Design and construction are more complicated
Advantages of suspension bridge
• Low cost of construction
The cost of construction of the suspension bridge is relatively low and also required less cost for
the construction materials.

• Flexibility in span
can be constructed in different length varying 2000 feet to 13000 feet and is highly suitable for
connecting long distance places.

• Ease of maintenance
once constructed does not require frequent maintenance and repair.

• Aesthetic Appearance
can be constructed with aesthetically appealing design as some of the suspension bridges around
the world become a tourist attraction such as the Brooklyn bridge in America.
Disadvantages of suspension bridge
• Longer Construction Time
The time required for the construction of the bridge is longer
• Lesser Wind Resistance
It does not offer much resistance to the powerful wind loads and hurricanes. Therefore, it is not
desirable for windy areas.

• Limitations of cables
The cables of the suspension bridge have limitations in the load resistance. The cables are mostly
capable of bearing the minimal weight of the traffic and other loads but may break subjected to
extreme loadings for a long period.
Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge
• The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge is the world longest
and tallest suspension bridge located in Japan.
• The total length is 3911m.
• Opened in 1998, it connects Kobe to Awaji
Island.
• The Bridge Exhibition Center at the foot of the
Kobe side of the bridge

History
• Before the bridge was built, ferries carried passengers across the Akashi Strait in Japan
• Dangerous waterway often experiences severe storms, and in 1955 two ferries sank in the strait during a
storm, killing 168 people.
• Therefore, the Japanese government develop plans for a bridge to cross the strait.
• supported the bridge with a truss, or complex network of triangular braces, beneath the roadway. The open
network of triangles makes the bridge very rigid, but it also allows the wind to blow right through the
structure.
• In addition, engineers placed 20 tuned mass dampers (TMDs) in each tower. The TMDs swing in the
opposite direction of the wind sway.
• So when the wind blows the bridge in one direction, the TMDs sway in the opposite direction, effectively
"balancing" the bridge and cancelling out the sway.
• With this design, the Akashi Kaikyo can handle 180-mile-per-hour winds, and it can withstand an
earthquake with a magnitude of up to 8.5 on the Richter scale!.