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Parts of a Suspension Bridge

Parts of a Suspension Bridge thumbnail
Parts of a Suspension Bridge

A suspension bridge suspends a roadway by cables. Because the bridge uses these cables as an integral part of its design, the bridge is flexible and affected by wind. Engineers plan the design to account for this and to increase stability.

  1. Superstructure and Substructure

    • A suspension bridge has two types of parts. The superstructure above includes the deck, towers and main suspension cables. The substructure below includes piers and anchorages.

    Deck

    • The deck is the roadway or walkway of a suspension bridge and can be made of one or more pieces. The deck is also called the girder.

    Large Anchors

    • Anchorages of rock or concrete hold the cables at both ends of a suspension bridge. Cables entering the anchors are separated into strands within the rock to distribute the tension load.

    Piers and Towers

    • Piers are the lower foundations of a suspension bridge, supporting the towers over which the cables travel. The weight of the cables is transferred into the towers and piers.

    Cables

    • Main cables stretch from one anchorage, then over the towers, then into the anchor at the other side of the bridge. Suspension cables connect the deck to the main cables.

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