suspension bridge
A bridge whose span hangs from main cables anchored at its ends, commonly supported above the span by towers.
A suspension bridge is a bridge whose span hangs from cables which are connected to anchors at the end of the span. The suspension cables are often held up by suspension towers between the endpoints. In contrast to a cable-stayed bridge, the deck hangs from the main suspension cables, usually through vertical suspenders, rather than relying on direct angled stays from the piers.
The main suspension cables carry the span through hanging connections. Towers commonly raise those cables above the deck between their end anchorages.
The main-cable suspension system distinguishes the form from direct angled stays attached to piers or nearby rock. The cable arrangement determines the structural form.
In other languages
- Deutsch
- Eine Brücke, deren Deck an Enden von Stahlseilen hängt.
suspension 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. -
cable-stayed bridge
A bridge whose deck is supported by tense cables mounted on columns or in the surrounding landscape. -
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. -
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.