SV400 – Simple Suspension Bridge
The experiment simple suspension bridge allows the experimental
investigation of the tension in the main cable of a suspension bridge under different load conditions.
This experiment has the following properties:
- Suspension bridge hung between 2 pulley supports with a rigid bridge deck
- Up to 1.35kg of additional weight to simulate uniformly distributed loads (UDL) and point loads
- Load cell to measure tension in the main cable at the support
Supplied with Armfield structures software as standard
Description
The suspension bridge is constructed with a single main cable with nine suspenders distributed along its length. The suspenders support the rigid bridge deck which has the capacity for additional weights to be hung along its length simulating both UDLs and point loads.
The main cable is hung between pulley supports and restrained by two cable tensioners, allowing the correct amount of cable sag to be set.
Two pulley supports, one with a fixed connection and the other with a load cell connection for the main cable, are used as the towers of the suspension bridge. The main cable runs over a pulley at the top of the supports allowing the cable to move freely.
The cable tensioner at one of the supports connects to a load cell which allows the tension in the main cable at that support to be measured.
Technical Specifications
- Suspension Bridge
- Universal Frame Mounting Hardware
- Load Cell: Force Range 0 – 17.6N
- Bridge Span: 500mm
- Cable Sag: 100mm
- Bridge Deck Weight: 625g
- 1 x Bridge Deck 500mm Long
- 1 x Main Cable with Suspenders
- 1 x Pulley Support with Fixed Connection
- 1 x Pulley Support with Load Cell Connection
- 2 x Cable Tensioners
- 2 x 500g Weight Hangers
- 7 x 50g Weight Hangers
- 9 x Detent Pins
Features & Benefits
- The tension in the main cable at the support is measured using load cell attached to one end of the cable
- Includes multiple load combinations that can be applied to the bridge including UDLs, point load and moving loads
- The initial amount of dip/sag in the main cable is adjusted through tensioners secured to each end of the cable
- Supplied with Armfield structures software as standard
- Introduction to the suspended beam (or Gerber) bridge
- Support reactions for an increasing point load and a uniformly distributed load (UDL)
- Relationship between applied load and tension in a cable
- Comparison of theory with actual results for a uniformly distributed load
- How loads affect bridge support reactions and internal reactions between the cantilever and suspended sections
- Tension
- Uniformly Distributed Load (UDL)
- Parabolic Arch
- Cable
- Suspension Bridge
- Storage temperature: -10°C to +70°C
- Operating temperature range: +10°C to +50°C
- Operating relative humidity range: 0 to 95%, non-condensing
SV100: Bench Mounted Frame
SV101: Structures Interface Unit
Electrical supply:
110/120V, 60Hz
220/240V, 50Hz
- SV100: Bench Mounted Frame
- SV101: Structures Interface Unit
- PC with a USB port, running Windows 7 or above
PACKED AND CRATED SHIPPING SPECIFICATIONS
Volume: 0.1m³
Gross Weight: 25kg
Length: 1.176m
Width: 0.392m
Height: 0.922m
- SV400: Simple Suspension Bridge
- SV100: Bench Mounted Frame (Sold separately)
- SV101: Structures Interface Unit (Sold separately)
