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What role do anchorages play in a suspension 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 suspension bridge, anchorages serve as critical structural components located at both ends of the bridge. Their primary role is to resist the inward and sometimes vertical pull exerted by the main cables.123
By securing these cables, anchorages help maintain the tension necessary for the bridge to carry vertical loads. Typically constructed of reinforced concrete, they often contain embedded steel eyebars to which the bridge's cables are fastened. While the bridge's towers handle vertical compression by transferring loads to the ground, the anchorages provide the essential counter-tension that allows the system to function as an "upside-down arch" in tension.321