Suspension cable system

       SUSPENSION CABLE SYSTEM

Different components of Suspension cable system:

Following are the different components of suspension cable system:

(1)Main cables:Cables that run along the top of the bridge and is anchored at the ends.Cables are used as temporary guide during the erection and as permanent guide for supporting mast and towers.These cables create the strongest suspension bridge.

(2)Suspender cables :These cables are also made similar to the main cables ,however they arenot thick .These cables help suspend the deck.

(3)Deck:The deck is the major area of the bridge where the vehicle and people travel.

(4)Towers:The towers are where the cables attach to create the perfect parabolic shape with the next tower in order to create the strongest hold.

(5)Tower foundation:Foundation is the part that supports the tower ,that can either be on ground or below water.

(6)Anchors:Anchors are where the main cables attach at the end of bridge

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STIFFENED AND UNSTIFFENED BRIDGE:

Stiffened Bridge:

-The stiffened bridge doesnot change the curvature of  cable as load moves on the decking.

-The stiffening girder transfers uniformly distributed load to each suspender.

Unstiffened Bridge:

-Traffic load of the decking is transferred to the main cable through the suspender.

-Since the cable is the main load bearing member ,the curvature of the cable changes as the load moves on the decking.

-It can be achieved by either three hinged or two hinged stiffening girder.