Suspension bridges come in two different designs: the suspension bridge, recognized by the elongated 'M' shape, and the less-common cable-stayed design, which has more of an 'A' shape. The cable-stayed bridge does not require two towers and four anchorages as does the suspension bridge. Instead, the cables are run from the roadway up to a single tower where they are secured.

Forces on a cable-stayed bridge

A cable-stayed bridge near Savannah, Georgia, USA
A typical cable-stayed bridge is a continuous girder with one or two towers erected above piers in the middle of the span. From these piers, cables are attached diagonally to the girder to provide additional support. Cable-stayed bridges have a low center of gravity which makes them strong against earthquakes, but at the same time makes them vulnerable to uneven sinking of the ground.

Cables are extremely well suited for axial tension, however are weak against compression and bending forces. As a result, long span cable......

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Title: Cable Stayed Bridges
Approximate Word Count: 293
Approximate Pages: 2 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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