cable-stayed bridge
A bridge whose deck is supported by tense cables mounted on columns or in the surrounding landscape.
Pictured: Martin Olav Sabo Bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge whose span is carried with the assistance of tense cables attached to fixed points on piers or anchored to nearby rock. In contrast to a suspension bridge, the deck does not simply hang straight down on a series of cables, but is held in place by cables which are angled.
Angled cables connect the span directly to fixed support points. The supports can be piers or suitable nearby rock.
The direct stays distinguish this arrangement from a deck hanging beneath main suspension cables. The form depends on the support path rather than merely the presence of cables.
cable-stayed bridge Photos
Related definitions
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arch bridge
A bridge whose deck is supported from below by one or more arches carrying loads toward their end supports. -
beam bridge
A bridge with a rigid spanning member resting on supports at both ends of each span. -
cantilever bridge
A bridge whose spans project from anchoring piers instead of simply resting on supports at both ends. -
float bridge
A bridge whose span floats on water and is simply anchored to stabilization points. -
movable bridge
A bridge of any form which is capable of controlled movement in order to lift or remove its span. -
suspension bridge
A bridge whose span hangs from main cables anchored at its ends, commonly supported above the span by towers. -
trestle
A bridge or viaduct whose deck is carried by a continuous rigid support framework, often over many small spans. -
truss bridge
A bridge whose span is carried by a connected truss framework with members acting in tension and compression.