Suspension bridges are an important engineering marvel for traversing larger distances over physical barriers such as rivers, valleys, and other bodies of water. Civil engineers are particularly familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of building suspension bridges and the solutions they can provide. In this blog article, we will delve into the various advantages and disadvantages of suspension bridges, how they are used in civil engineering, and why they are so popular among engineers.
Suspension bridges are one of the oldest bridge types in existence. The first suspension bridge was built over 2,000 years ago in China. The use of suspension bridges has continued to grow and they are now used all over the world. Despite their long history, suspension bridges are still constantly evolving. New technologies and materials are being used to improve the design and performance of suspension bridges.
Advantages of Suspension Bridges
One of the advantages of suspension bridges is that they are very strong and durable. The cables that support the bridge deck can be very thick, meaning that the bridge can support a large amount of weight. This makes them ideal for carrying heavy traffic, such as vehicles and trains. Suspension bridges can also span very long distances, up to 2 kilometers. This is much longer than any other type of bridge.
Another advantage of suspension bridges is that they are very flexible. This means that they can withstand high winds and earthquakes. The flexibility of the bridge deck also means that it can absorb the energy of moving traffic, making the ride smoother for vehicles and trains.
Despite the disadvantages, suspension bridges are still a popular choice for engineers. This is because they offer a number of advantages that other bridge types do not. Suspension bridges are very strong, flexible, and durable. They can span long distances and offer a smooth ride for vehicles. If you are looking to build a bridge, a suspension bridge may be the right choice for you.
The main advantage of a suspension bridge is that it needs relatively few intermediate supports, compared with other types of bridges. This allows them to be constructed over deep valleys while still being able to have foundations much closer together than other types of bridges can. While this feature is valuable in many situations, it does make them prone to more significant damage than other types of bridges during times when heavy loads pass over the bridge or if there are strong winds.
Suspension bridges are the perfect choice for long spans and can be designed to be light to limit their dead weight. Suspension bridges rely on the tension and compression of the deck to support its overall weight without external supports. Lightweight suspension bridges can even use chains instead of cables. When a cable is stretched tight, it resists being pulled more than when it is loose.
Suspension bridges have a number of advantages over other types of bridges. They can be built in areas that are difficult to access by building conventional bridges, directly linking separate geographical locations.
They are usually cheaper to build, since they need less concrete (since the weight is spread out over a greater length).
Maintenance costs for suspension bridges are also lower, because the cables and supports do not require painting or sealing like other bridge types. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California is an example of a suspension bridge. It was completed in 1937. The two towers supporting the bridge were built using falsework, with each tower consisting of two hollow tubes sunk into the bedrock on either side of the strait. Once construction was complete, the towers were filled with concrete.
Disadvantages of Suspension Bridges
There are also some disadvantages to building suspension bridges. One of the biggest disadvantages is that they are very expensive to build. The cables and supports that are needed to build a suspension bridge can be very costly. Additionally, suspension bridges can take a long time to build. The long construction time can cause disruptions to traffic and local businesses.
The main disadvantage is that they require very large foundations, which can be a problem in areas with unstable ground and poor soil.
The problem with suspension bridges is that they rely on support from cables anchored at each end of the bridge. When you pick up one end of a long piece of string and hold it out in front of you, it will dangle freely because there is no tension applied to it. If you hang something from that piece of string – perhaps a bowling ball – it will weigh down one end more than the other, causing some pulling on the string but overall not much tension.
