Why Is A Viable Suspension Bridge

Why is a viable suspension bridge, when is needed a central section exceeding 350 m? By Daniel Nova Burgos.

Bridges are a solution to a need for mobilizing people, engineering they have reached to communicate places separated by rivers, landforms and natural obstacles places. Due to this need, it has been innovating and improved functionality, strength, durability and design, to the point they have created major structural pieces of work. The design of bridges varies depending on the function and nature of the land on which it will be build. But the suspension bridges are the best solution when it comes to join large distances, since construction costs are optimized when compared to other types of bridges, one of its biggest advantages is the weight of the board, which allows the functionality of this structure.

Suspension bridges have as a fundamental principle, the use of cables as its most important structural element, as it aims to tap the huge resistance capacity of the steel when subjected to traction, these main cables consist of "threads cable" the diameter of a pencil. The "cable threads" are used to generate greater redundancy and protect the structure, redundancy is required when some of the small wires fail between the hundreds of main cable, those that fail can be of little threat comparison of all the main cable. When threads of cable grouped form a main cable sufficiently strong to withstand not only the load of the structure, but also the weight of traffic, terrorist attacks, the wind or seisms. The steel is so tough that a thread cable 1/10 inch of thick (0.25cm) can support half a ton load.

One of the clear advantages offered by suspension bridges is that they can withstand boards much longer than those held by other types as of cable-stayed bridges, in girder etc. They can reach a central section of 2,100 m, in other types of bridges can be spent more materials of construction, as more foundations for that great distance are needed. Besides between higher towers are, the greater may be the length of the central section, such as towers can have diversity in geometry and construction materials. The board can be at a great height, allowing the passage of ships or vessels very high. In suspension bridges the central supports are not needed during construction, allowing the construction over of deep canyons or heavily transited water courses.

But they are also the most complex under construction and being built on water. The lack of rigidity makes it can to return impassable in strong wind or turbulence and required to be temporarily closed. As the separation of the central section is also long ago that the foundations of the towers should be deeper, this, added to be a weak field, makes the construction of foundations more expensive.

For a central section of over 350 m, the most convenient to level of costs is a suspension bridge, but if the length is less than 350m, the suspension bridge may be more expensive to build than other bridge. Another clear difference on the suspension bridge with the other bridges, is the weight of the board, and the board on the suspension bridge is lighter and less rigid than others bridges, it’s for that reason

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