General Information

Figure 1 shows a pedestrian suspension bridge.

Pedestrian suspension bridge.
Pedestrian suspension bridge over a river
Type Single-span suspension bridge
Main span ≅ 35 m
Deck width ≅ 2 m
Deck width to main span ratio ≅ 1:17
Pylon Reinforced concrete
Girder Steel arch truss

Steel Arch Truss

Figure 2 shows a schematic lateral view of the bridge.

Lateral view.
Schematic lateral view of a pedestrian suspension bridge

The arch rise r ≅ 2 m, and the main span s ≅ 35 m; that gives an arch rise to main span ratio of about 1/17. Figure 3 shows an arch truss sector.

Arch truss.
Arch truss of a pedestrian suspension bridge

The truss height h ≅ 0.4 m, and the truss members are made of rectangular hollow sections. Figure 4 shows a schematic lateral view of the bridge without the suspension system.

Pedestrian steel arch truss bridge.
Lateral view of a steel arch truss bridge

Assume that the arch truss is of type two-hinged with a dead load of 100 kg/m.

  • Would there be a big difference between the dead load of the two-hinged steel arch truss of the suspension bridge and the dead load of the two-hinged steel arch truss bridge in figure 4?

    • Gusset Plates

    Figure 5 shows an arch truss sector.

    Arch truss.
    Gusset plates of a steel arch truss

    The gusset plates (marked by the letter G) are welded on each upper chord node and alternating on the bottom chord nodes.

  • What are some possible reasons for the above shown gusset plate arrangement?
    Are the gusset plates required for structural reasons?

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