Suspension Bridges

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To begin to understand the mathematics behind building a bridge we need find out the different types of a bridges. The definition of a bridge is a structure carrying a road, path, or railroad across a geographic obstacle. There are three different types of bridges. They are: beam/arch bridges, suspension bridges, and truss bridges. Modern beam bridges usually span up to 200 feet, modern arch bridges can span across 800-1,000 feet, while Suspension bridges can span from 2,000-7,000 feet ("HowStuffWorks"). Arch bridges are very efficient because they distribute weight evenly rather than having all of the weight straight across. Beam bridges consist of a horizontal beam going straight across that is supported at the ends. Suspension bridges have a horizontal beam is vertically suspended. Truss bridges are supported by trusses. Trusses are a framework consisting of rafters, post, and struts, that are supporting a roof, or in our case a bridge.
There is always two forces acting upon a bridge. Tension and compression. When a beam is bent out of shape, the top of it is compressed while the bottom is stretched by tension. It curves because the distance underneath becomes longer. It …show more content…

A suspension bridge can be used to span large bodies of water. In a suspension bridge, there are cables that use tension to support a bridge. Cables are able to withstand high pressure but offer no resistance to compression. The cables are used to transfer the weight of the load into anchors on either side of the bridge.("Suspension Bridges", design-technology). Large towers are used to drape the cables over the bridge to evenly distribute the weight (See figure

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