Forces on a suspension bridge

Suspension bridges are among the oldest of all bridge designs. Their main supporting element is a flexible cable. Since cables are able to absorb high tensile forces while themselves having little dead-weight, they enable wide-span suspension bridges to be constructed. This makes it possible to bridge longer distances with no supporting pillars, such as over wide gorges. The sag of suspension bridge supporting cables is parabolic in shape, as the weights are attached at relatively short, constant intervals by way of vertical cables to the main supporting cables.

• investigation of a suspension bridge in various load cases
• suspension bridge, consisting of 2 supporting cables, roadway and 2 deflection pulleys as pylons
• supporting cables with parabolic sag
• hangers (vertical supporting cables) in the form of U-shaped shackles in graduated lengths
• roadway (line load) can be loaded by additional weights
• 2 selectable roadways: rigid roadway (two-section with central hinge) and elastic roadway
• experimental setup 'hanging cable': supporting cables without roadway, loaded with point loads
• 4 hanger to measure the cable force in both supporting cables
• storage system to house the components
• experimental setup in frame