Description

The suspension bridge is constructed with a single main cable with nine suspenders distributed along its length. The suspenders support the rigid bridge deck which has the capacity for additional weights to be hung along its length simulating both UDLs and point loads.

The main cable is hung between pulley supports and restrained by two cable tensioners, allowing the correct amount of cable sag to be set.

Two pulley supports, one with a fixed connection and the other with a load cell connection for the main cable, are used as the towers of the suspension bridge. The main cable runs over a pulley at the top of the supports allowing the cable to move freely.

The cable tensioner at one of the supports connects to a load cell which allows the tension in the main cable at that support to be measured.

Features & Benefits

• The tension in the main cable at the support is measured using load cell attached to one end of the cable
• Includes multiple load combinations that can be applied to the bridge including UDLs, point load and moving loads
• The initial amount of dip/sag in the main cable is adjusted through tensioners secured to each end of the cable
• Supplied with Armfield structures software as standard

Experimental Content

• Introduction to the suspended beam (or Gerber) bridge
• Support reactions for an increasing point load and a uniformly distributed load (UDL)
• Relationship between applied load and tension in a cable
• Comparison of theory with actual results for a uniformly distributed load
• How loads affect bridge support reactions and internal reactions between the cantilever and suspended sections