Design of a Cable-Stayed Suspension Bridge

Group 3 was challenged this year with developing a cable-stayed suspension bridge for modeling of concepts in Statics and Mechanics of Materials.  By developing such a tool to be used in the classroom, reaction forces, displacements, and stresses can be found for applied loads by placing strain gauges at different places on the bridge, such as the pylons or road.  The geometry allows for angled calculations, as well as straight calculations.  The total cost of such a teaching tool would be approximately $250 and would be maintenance free.  The design is such that this bridge may be used in a large lecture hall for visual demonstrations.  It also may be used in the laboratory for experimentation and measuring.

Click on any part on the bridge below to learn more about it.