Introduction of Bridge Engineering The main forces in a suspension bridge are tension in the cables and compression in the towers. The deck, which is usually a truss or a box girder, is connected to the suspension cables by vertical suspender cables or rods, called hangers, which are also in tension.

Forces and Loads On The Golden Gate Bridge The vehicles and bridge deck weight is transmitted upwards by the suspender rods to the major suspension cable that transfers the forces to the anchor blocks and bridge towers.

San Francisco celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge on May 24, 1987 with a bridge walk. The bridge began to groan and sway with an estimated 300,000 people packed like sardines onto it. The middle of the bridge sagged seven feet under the unprecedented weight, causing the iconic arch to flatten.

beam bridge

The Advantages of Suspension Bridges

• Cost Effective. There is a very minimal amount of materials needed in order to construct a suspension bridge.
• Can Be Built High Up.
• Span Great Lengths.
• Has Flexibility.
• Simple Construction.
• Soft Ground Issues.
• Too Flexible.
• Cannot Support High Traffic.

Heavy Loads: Flexibility also becomes an obstacle once significant, focused loads are concerned. Suspension bridges do not seem to be usually used for regional rail crossings that carry most weight loads that add dangerous stress to the structure.

List of the Disadvantages of Suspension Bridges

• Suspension bridges can struggle to support focused heavy weights.
• There is less flexibility with a suspension bridge.
• High winds can cause a suspension bridge to start vibrating.
• Some access below the deck may be necessary during construction.

THEY WILL HELP WITH LOWER-BACK PAIN: The bridge helps to reduce lower back pain as well. It works the hamstrings, lower back, abs, in addition to the glutes. With many of the benefits similar to that of a squat, another plus for the glute bridge is that it does not place any pressure on the lower back.

12 Important Pros and Cons of Truss Bridge

• Pros of Truss Bridge. High Strength. Ease of Construction. Uses Materials Effectively. Affordable Design Option. No Span Restrictions.
• Cons of Truss Bridge. A Lot of Maintenance is Required. Space Consuming. Requires Professional to Built. Heavy Weight. Have a Lower Weight Tolerance.

List of Pros of Arch Bridges

• They can provide higher levels of resistance.
• Their design is good when it comes to pressure.
• They can be made from virtually anything.
• They come with no distortion.
• They become stronger through time.
• They are structurally sound.
• They are economically advantageous in some way.

List of the Disadvantages of Arch Bridges

1. It offers a finite span length to use.
2. It is a time-consuming project to complete.
3. It is a structure which requires careful maintenance.
4. It is a bridge option that cannot be built in some locations.
5. It requires more side support to complete a successful span.

Arch bridges distribute the load (weight) instead of just pushing it straight down. They have abutments, supports on the ground at both ends, on either side of the arch for added support. Arch bridges do not break; instead they flex, or bend, under pressure.

Top Cons of an Arch Bridge Design

• It must be perfect for it to be effective.
• It needs more supports than average.
• It may need more maintenance than average.
• It takes time to build.
• It requires a specific skill-set to build.

It requires extra maintenance. As natural materials are generally used to build an arch bridge, there is a limit to the flexibility of its design, where it is known that it would move and flex under wind loads, causing the mortar that combines the materials together to disintegrate and crack over time.

The greater the degree of curvature (the larger the semicircle of the arch), the greater the effects of tension on the underside of the bridge. Build a big enough arch, and tension will eventually overtake the support structure’s natural strength.

catenary curve

This is why bridge design is of the utmost importance. Truss bridges are extremely effective because they have a high strength to weight ratio. In this experiment we have tested which type of truss bridge is the strongest, yet uses the least amount of material.