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How do diagonal cables transfer forces in a cable-stayed bridge?
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bridge
The multiple-span Seto Great Bridge over the Inland Sea, linking Kojima, Honshu, with Sakaide, Shikoku, Japan.
In a cable-stayed bridge, diagonal cables play a critical role in structural support by carrying the vertical loads of the main span through tension.12
These cables transfer forces in the following manner:
- Load Support: The nearly straight diagonal cables support the weight of the bridge deck.12
- Tower Transfer: The cables connect to one or more vertical towers, which then transfer these forces down to the foundations through vertical compression.12
- Deck Compression: In addition to supporting the vertical load, the tensile forces generated within the cables exert a horizontal compressive force on the bridge deck itself.12