SUSPENSION BRIDGE Suspension bridge is a bridge that has a deck suspended by cables or rods from other cables or chains

that hang between two towers and anchored at both ends. In a free hanging chains, the force exerted is uniform with respect to lenght of the chain and they follow the catenary curve. However in suspension bridge, chains or cables do not hang freely since they support the weight of the bridge. In most cases the roadway is flat. So when the weight of the cable is negligible compared with the weight being supported, the force exerted is uniform with respect to horizontal distance and the result is parabola. If the cable is heavy, then the resulting curve is between a catenary and parabola. In physics and geometry, the catenary is the curve that an idealised hanging chain or cable assumes when supported at it ends and acted on only by its own weight. The curve is the graph of the hyperbolic cosine function and has a U-like shape. It is superficially similar in appearance to a parabola though mathematically quite different. Its surface of revolution which is called catenoid is a minimal surface and is the shape assumed by a soap film bounded by two parallel circular rings. In a simple suspension bridge, where the roadways follows the cable, the force exerted is again proportional to the lenght of the chain, and the result is a catenary. The catenary form given by gravity is taken advantage of in its presence in heavy anchor rodes. An anchor rode usually conssists of chain and cable. Its usually used by ships, oilrigs, docks, wind turbines and other marine assets which must be anchored to the seabed. Particularly with larger vessels, the catenary curve given the weight of the rode presents a lower angle of pull on the anchor or mooring device. This assists the performance of the anchor and raises the level of force before dragging. With smaller vessels and in shallow water it is less effective.

Most suspension bridge cables follow a parabolic, not catenary and curve

In simple suspension bridge, the weight runs parallel to the cables and the cables follow a catenary curve.

The equation of catenary has the form of cosh is the hyperbolic cosine function.

, where

Three different catenaries through the same two points, depending horizontal force being and mass per unit length.

The Whewell equation for the catenary is

differenting the equation,

and eliminating

gives the equation,

the radius of the curve is then,

Which is the length of the line normal to the curve between it and the x-axis.