Make up examples with the terms describing a suspension structure.

Stiffening girder, anchor support, cable hanger, flexible cable, steel rope, vertical stiffness, horizontal stiffness, high-strength wires, square metre, and resistance.

Choose which statements are true:

1. The basic advantages of suspension structures are:

a) low horizontal stiffness b) super long spans c) force regulation.

2. A suspension cable is strong in a) compression b) tension c) flexure.

3. Cable-stayed and suspension bridges differ in a) the cable shape b) the span construction method c) architectural merits.

4. The tower for a 1, 200 m suspension span may be made of:

a) steel b) reinforced concrete c) cast-iron.

5. A cable-stayed structure without thrust has:

a) no piers b) anchor supports at the span end.

Complete and translate the following sentences:

1. Sometimes it is difficult to tell difference between (висячие и вантовые мосты). Suspension bridges may have (наклонные подвески) which resemble stay cables (fig. 10.1c). On the other hand, there are so called cable truss bridges, which look like suspension structures (fig. 10.1c).

2. Most cable-stayed bridges have powerful steel or reinforced concrete (балка жесткости). It resists a cable-stay (распор) (fig. 10.1b). Suspension bridges are constructed either with (анкерные опоры) or without them. In case of anchor supports, they transmit the thrust to the foundations. The bridges of this type are called (распорные) (fig. 10.1a). When suspension bridges are built without anchor supports, the thrust is transmitted to the stiffening girder. They are defined as (безраспорные) (fig. 10.1c).

3. One running metre weight of the stiffening girder in suspension and cable-stayed bridges is considerably less in comparison with other bridge systems. That is why (динамические нагрузки) make a suspension structure highly vulnerable to aerodynamic forces and sensitive to vibration when the bridge spans are rather long. To reduce these effects bridge designers use (висячие системы повышенной жесткости). The cable is rigidly attached to the stiffening girder or an additional cable is secured.

4. (Возведение пилонов) is the most complicated building process in case of suspension and cable-stayed structures. The building material for towers is reinforced concrete for 300-500 m spans or steel for longer spans. The tower works simultaneously in (сжатие с изгибом). That is why its calculation requires fine precision.

Answer the following questions:

1. What bridge model provides an economical solution for long spans?

2. What is the main carrying component in suspension bridges?

3. Why are suspension and cable-stayed bridges often confused?

4. What bridge elements are alike in suspension and cable-stayed structures?

5. What country holds a world record for suspension span length?

6. What makes a suspension structure highly vulnerable to aerodynamic forces?

7. Do you know the disadvantages of suspension and cable-stayed bridges?

8. Where were the most famous suspension and cable-stayed bridges built?