This product helps students to understand how loads affect tension in the suspension cable supporting the ‘deck’ of a suspension bridge. Students add loads to the deck held by the suspension cable between two supports. A load cell in the left-hand support measures the cable tension.

This product includes additional masses so students may apply a uniformly distributed load (UDL) and a single point load.

Learning Outcomes

• How bridge load affects the tension in a suspension cable
• Comparing a central point load with a UDL
• Exploring the ratio of bridge ‘deck’ mass and a moving load
• Comparing simple parabola-based theory with a more realistic analysis of the model

Key Features

• A simplified version of a realistic structure to give students an understanding of real-life structures
• Direct measurement of cable tension for simple and quick experiments
• Supplied with a storage tray to keep smaller items safe
• Works with user-friendly software (VDAS)