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Defination Of A Suspension Bridge:
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge held in place by cables suspended from towers or piers. It is designed to cross canyons, rivers, or other obstacles, and to travel long distances. The main structural support of a suspension bridge is the suspension cable, which is anchored at each end of the bridge. This suspension cable is attached between the towers located at far apart lengths. And suspension cables smaller in size than those cables help to keep the core of the bridge stable. The function of these suspension cables is to keep the bridge stable and prevent it from falling.
Basic Principle Of A Suspension Bridge:
The basic principle behind a suspension bridge is to transfer the weight of the bridge to the middle of the cables, the basic principle behind these bridges is that such bridges distribute their own weight and the load on these bridges equally across the cables. Divides by So that its full load does not fall on any one part of the bridge or on any one suspension cable. The special thing about such bridges is that due to this principle, they can be easily constructed from light construction material like steel. Because their weight does not remain constant at one point but flows evenly at different points.
The architectural features of suspension bridges:
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The architectural features of suspension bridges are their construction and special design. Which is usually not seen in ordinary bridges. This bridge works on the basis of some characteristics of these bridges. We have explained some of the architectural features of these bridges in a general way below.
1. Main Cable: The main cables are the basis of the load-bearing element of the suspension bridge. The structural framework of these towers is fixed because of these cables. These cables are installed in the middle of the towers, which work to distribute the weight of the bridge. These cables consist of thousands of individual steel wires that are bundled together to form a flexible and strong structure.
2. Towers: Another architectural feature of suspension bridges are their towers. Because a suspension bridge usually consists of two towers that support the main cables. These towers are usually made of steel or concrete. These towers are connected to the initial and the last two parts of the bridge. The height of these towers can be determined for some main purpose.
3. Anchorage: This is a type of structure. Which are securely attached to massive structures called anchorages at each end of the suspension bridge's main cable. These anchorages are often large blocks of concrete or solid rock that provide a counterbalance to the tension forces exerted by the main cables.
4. Suspension Cable / Suspender Cable: Compared to the main cables, the smaller cables which are attached to the main cables are called suspension cables. These cables are attached to the main cables and support the bridge deck i.e. on which the vehicles move. The job of these cables is to transfer the load from the deck to the main cable. The number and spacing of suspender cables depend on the design and engineering requirements of the bridge.
5. Bridge deck: In simple language, you can add bridge deck to the common road in front of your house, which serves to carry traffic including vehicles, pedestrians and sometimes bicycles. The bridge deck is connected to the main cable with the help of suspender cables. So that the load is transferred from the bridge deck to the main cable through the suspender cables. Decks can be made of steel, concrete or a combination of both materials.
6. Wind Bracing: Suspension bridges are designed to withstand wind forces, these bridges can easily withstand high winds. Because their structure is built keeping this type of accident in mind.
Are suspension bridges earthquake resistant?
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Simple Explanation: The anti-seismicity of suspension bridges depends on the place at which the bridge is built. Because in such cases it is also necessary to have the place according to the suspension bridge. And the engineering used in the construction of the bridge could also be the reason.
Suspension bridges are known for their flexibility, which allows them to absorb and dissipate energy during an earthquake. The main supporting cables of a suspension bridge are designed to sway and move with the seismic forces, reducing the impact on the bridge and minimizing the risk of collapse. Additionally, the towers and anchorages of suspension bridges are typically designed to withstand seismic loads.
Another Example Of Suspension Bridges:
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The kind of bridge you see in the picture, in fact, this type of bridge also comes under the category of suspension bridge. They are smaller in size and less in length but their structure also works in the same way as in a big bridge. Mostly these bridges are constructed to cover a peak lake, ditch, or any short or fixed distance. These bridges are mostly constructed at those places where it is difficult to construct a concrete bridge or its need is not felt. These Bridges are mostly made of ropes or sticks.
List Of Top 10 Suspension Bridges In The World
It is difficult to tell how many suspension bridges are there in the world. Because these pools are also of different types. But some pools are famous all over the world because of their structure. We have shared the list of some 10 such bridges below.
1. Akashi Kaikyo Bridge - Located in Japan, it is the longest suspension bridge in the world.
2. Golden Gate Bridge - Located in San Francisco, California, USA, it is one of the most famous suspension bridges.
3. Brooklyn Bridge - Located in New York City, USA, it is an iconic suspension bridge that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn.
4. Humber Bridge - Located in the UK, it spans the Humber Estuary and was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1981.
5. Verrazano-Narrows Bridge - Located in New York City, USA, it connects Staten Island and Brooklyn and has one of the longest main spans in the world.
6. George Washington Bridge - Located in New York City, USA, it connects Manhattan and New Jersey.
7. Tsing Ma Bridge - Located in Hong Kong, it is one of the longest suspension bridges that carries both road and rail traffic.
8. Forth Bridge - Located in Scotland, it is a famous railway bridge that spans the Firth of Forth.
9. Storebælt Bridge - Located in Denmark, it is one of the longest suspension bridges in Europe and connects the islands of Zealand and Funen.
10. Øresund Bridge - Located between Denmark and Sweden, it is a combined road and rail bridge that connects the two countries.
The pictures of the above mentioned 10 suspension pulls along with their names are given in the image gallery below.
There is no suspension bridge in India that completely matches the architecture of suspension bridges. That is why it can be said that these bridges are negligible in India. But the list of some of the bridges that fall under the category of suspension bridge is given below.
List Of Suspension Bridges in india
1. Howrah Bridge - Kolkata, West Bengal
2. Vidyasagar Setu (Second Hooghly Bridge) - Kolkata, West Bengal
3. Bandra-Worli Sea Link - Mumbai, Maharashtra
4. Mahatma Gandhi Setu - Patna, Bihar
5. Naini Bridge - Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
6. Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link (Bandra-Versova Sea Link) - Mumbai, Maharashtra
7. Godavari Arch Bridge - Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh
8. Jawahar Setu - Sonpur, Bihar
9. Pamban Bridge - Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
10. Koilwar Bridge - Koilwar, Bihar
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