General Information

Figure 1 shows a pedestrian suspension bridge.

Suspension bridge.
Wooden suspension over a creek
Type Single-span suspension bridge
Main span ≅ 9 m
Deck width ≅ 0.6 m
Deck width to main span ratio ≅ 1:15
Pylon Tree trunk
Girder Bamboo transverse beam

Wooden Suspension Bridge Configuration

Figure 2 shows the pylon on shore 1.

Pylon (shore 1).
Suspension bridge pylon made of a tree trunk

The pylon is made of a tree trunk, and the base is embedded in the ground. The main cables are made of ropes; they pass over the branch bark ridge and are anchored by tying to a fallen tree trunk. Bamboo poles are used as main cable spacers. Figure 3 shows the pylon on shore 2.

Pylon (shore 2).
Pylon made of a tree trunk

In contrast to shore 1, the main cables are anchored to a ground-embedded RC element by a single steel wire rope terminated with U-bolt clamps. Figure 4 shows the bridge entrance on shore 1.

Bridge entrance shore 1.
Bridge entrance of a wooden suspension bridge

The abutment consists of a single sandbag, while the deck consists of five bamboo poles placed side-by-side and bundled by ropes. The hangers are also made of ropes, and the first hanger set is tied to the deck's external poles. The vertical clearance (h) is about 0.8 m. Figure 5 shows a main span sector.

Main span.
Main span sector of a wooden suspension bridge with a bamboo pole deck

The hangers are tied to the girders and the deck's external poles. Figure 6 shows a schematic three-dimensional view of the bridge.

Three-dimensional view.
Three-dimensional drawing of a single-span wooden suspension bridge
  • How efficient is the bridge configuration?
  • Different Bridge Configuration

    Figure 7 shows a schematic three-dimensional view of the bridge and a two-span continuous beam bridge that uses sand bags for the intermediate support.

    Used bridge and two-span continuous beam bridge.
    Three-dimensional drawing of a suspension bridge and a two-span continuous beam bridge
  • What are some possible reasons to choose the suspension bridge?
    Which variant uses resources probably more efficiently?
    What are the main problems of the suspension bridge and the beam bridge?