General Information
Figure 1 shows a suspension bridge that is used by motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians.
| Type | Single-span suspension bridge |
| Main span | ≅ 75 m |
| Deck width | ≅ 2 m |
| Deck width to main span ratio | ≅ 1:36 |
| Pylon | Reinforced concrete |
| Girder | Steel truss |
Hangers and Their Connections
The hangers consist of alternately arranged steel wire ropes and steel rods, as shown in figure 2.
The connections to the main cable are shown in figure 3.
The hanger rod is connected to the main cable by a U-bolt clamp and a cable band, while the hanger cable is connected by a U-bolt clamp and a frame plate, which is placed over the main cable. The wire rope termination consists of U-bolt clamps, and the rod has an eye end.
What are some possible reasons to use two different connection types?
The connections to the girder are shown in figure 4.
The hanger cable is connected to the gusset plate of the bottom node by an L-plate and an eye bolt, while the hanger rod is connected to the gusset plate of the upper node by an L-plate and a washer and bolt.
How does an L-plate behave when subjected to bending fatigue?
Pylons' Backstay Cables
Figure 5 shows a pylon.
Besides the main cables, each pylon is connected to two sagging backstay cables. Figure 6 shows the backstay to pylon anchorage.
The pylon anchorage consists of two U-brackets and a U-bar, which is placed over the cross-beam and welded to a U-bracket. Figure 7 shows the ground anchorage.
The backstay is connected to the closed bridge socket by a turnbuckle and a cable, which is bent around the socket and fixed with U-bolt clamps.