Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why are suspension-bridge towers built to resist compression?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
bridge
The multiple-span Seto Great Bridge over the Inland Sea, linking Kojima, Honshu, with Sakaide, Shikoku, Japan.
In a suspension bridge, the primary function of the towers is to support the vertical loads generated by the bridge deck and traffic. These loads are carried by the bridge's curved cables, which are in a state of tension.12
The towers are built to resist vertical compression because they act as the structural interface that transfers these massive downward forces from the cables directly into the ground. Essentially, while the cables function as an "upside-down arch" in tension, the towers serve as the rigid vertical members that must withstand the resulting compressive stress to maintain the stability of the entire system.12