Bridges are the result of our need to transport goods and people easily from one side of an obstacle to another. As a consequence of human ingenuity, the suspension bridge was developed. These bridges consist of some basic parts, the two supports on either side, the cables, and the bridge. Suspension bridges offer a different way of building a bridge and with it comes some advantages and disadvantages. In contrast to normal bridges which hold most of the weight of the bridge and its load on the pillars and columns under it, suspension bridges bear most of the load on the wires and support structures on opposite sides of the bridge. The load on these bridges is transformed into a tension in the wires of the bridge, which hold up the main bridge section.
An advantage of these structures is their ability to be much taller than most other bridges, which allows them to be build over bays and large rivers while still allowing boats to pass under them. However, since such areas also have strong winds, this could be detrimental to the bridge. Suspension bridges are infamous for their flexibility and fragility when subjected to high speed winds. An example of this would be the Tacoma Narrows bridge, which bent and and shook during a particularly windy day which eventually caused it to fall. Heavy loads can also cause it to buckle and bend which is obviously a limitation of the design. Suspension bridges also require an extra strong foundation to build, which can greatly increase the cost of building one.
Ultimately, suspension bridges provide an alternative way of bridging gaps and crossing obstacles and a good addition to the world of structures.
