Suspension bridges

For centuries, people have walked across bridges that are just a log that hangs from “cables” of twisted grass.And they look very risky! They are suspension bridges.

Suspension bridges, unlike beam and arch bridges, have roadways that are suspended (hung) from above. Almost all suspension bridges have supporting truss systems. These are located beneath the bridge’s deck (roadway or path). Truss systems are open networks of triangles. They allow wind to pass through. This helps stiffen the deck. It also reduces its tendency to sway and ripple.

Suspension bridges are the most expensive kind to build. They can also span far longer distances than any other kind of bridge.

Play with the Structures

 Play with forces, loads, structures...

Types of structures

All structures built can be classified into the following groups:

• Mass structures

Mass structures have been used since ancient history. They are based on the strength, resistance and permanence of natural structures that can stand the test of time. They are made up of large, thick stone blocks and the accumulation of materials used to provide support.

Some of the clearest examples of mass structures include the Egyptian pyramids, ancient temples, dams and stone bridges, some of which are still standing.

• Framed structures

These structures use resistant elements, such as vertical pillars and columns crossed by horizontal beams to form a framework. Today, they are used to construct the skeleton of buildings and to build scaffolding. A ladder is an example of a simple frame structure.

• Laminated structures

These structures are used to provide coverage and protection. They tend to be light and are usually fragile in comparison to other heavier structures. Harder, more resistant laminated structures are usually called exoskeletons.

The most common structures of this type include the outer panels of electrical appliances or the sheets of metal that cover a car.

• Hanging or suspended structures

This type of structure is based on the use of braces and steel cables to support solid structural elements. Braces and cables are often used in bridge-building projects, which tend to have one or two large towers, upon which the braces and steel cables that support the bridge rest.

• Triangulated structures

Triangles are the only geometrical shape that cannot be deformed. This means that an object made up of three rigid bars that form a triangle does not change shape when forces are applied to it. Therefore, triangulation, or making triangles with resistant elements, is the most effective way to make structures more rigid and more difficult to deform.

This type of solution can be seen in buildings and permanent structures, as well as temporary structures such as cranes, for example.

Ancient ruins

Ancient ruins give us a fascinating window into the past: how people lived, the spaces they inhabited and their daily lives. Historians, architects and travellers alike marvel at these remnants of time past, but it’s often hard to get a sense of what these spectacular buildings would have looked like at their peak. We´ll step back in time and recreate one ancient ruin in its original location

The Parthenon
Back in ancient times, this temple sheltered a monumental golden statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, craft and war. Sitting atop the hill at the Acropolis, an ancient citadel in Athens, the Parthenon cuts an imposing shape. In 1687 it was severely damaged in the Great Turkish War, but much of the sturdy Doric architecture withheld the blast, and a good chunk of it is still intact to this day. Nowadays it’s a tourist hotspot attracting millions of visitors a year. Here it is, fully restored to its original glory. Athena herself would be proud.

Spiderweb

Spiderwebs come in many shapes and sizes. Each type is so typical of a certain spider that experts know which spider made a certain web without seeing the spider. The orb web is the best known of all spiderwebs. It can catch large, powerful prey, such as locusts, beetles, and wasps. Some spiders  weave in bold patterns. For example, they might make zigzags and spirals. These patterns help keep the web stable. Some scientists believe that the patterns also help birds avoid flying into the webs.
Orb webs like the one in the video are built with different thicknesses and strengths of silk. The framework includes dry threads that come out from the center like spokes on a wheel. These give the web strength. The circular threads are sticky and stretchy. They trap fast-moving insects and also make the web flexible in wind and rain.

Catastrophic Construction

And now, a game. But don´t forget you are working with structures!!!
Ah! Choose the English option for the language

Online Physics Games

Structures: The Arch

An arch is a structure commonly used in bridges and buildings. This video presents examples of the arch as a structural unit and introduces the concepts of compression and traction.



Remember you can activate the subtitles

Levitating Man

Surely you have seen the levitating performance of a man and you have asked how it is possible. Someone has filmed the moment the man prepares his position and gets to work. The trick is an iron structure that runs along the arm and ends with a seat on which the man is pulled. Did you imagine it?

Centre Of Gravity

Learn more about the center of gravity. Remember it is the point whre all the mass of a body is concentrated.

The benefits of good posture

Your posture is the foundation for every movement your body makes and
can determine how well your body adapts to the stresses on it.

So, “Stand up straight!”

4 Girl Chair Trick!

Is it a trick or is just a human structure based on physical principles?

Five different bridge technologies in history

It can be hard to imagine a world without bridges, just getting home from a friend’s house might take several days instead of five minutes, fortunately the ancient Romans stepped up to the plate. We took a look at the five major bridge designs in our World’s history, and examined the people and cultures they connect.

Building the Trajan´s Column

Recent research sheds light on an ancient Roman mystery: how the Trajan's Column may have been built. This stop-motion animation imagines its construction.

Dome ceiling construction

Can you imagine contruct a bridge in less than five minutes?
Now, it´s possible.

Structures lab

Learn about structures in the lab of forces, shapes, materials or loads.

The World’s Most Beautiful Bridges

Architects and engineers have been able to merge design and technology together in order to create bridges that are bigger, better, and more spectacular than ever before. But young and old ones are marvelous.
Enjoy them!

Failure by design

Learn about some famous architectural failures and what have we learned from them.

Failure by design from Isabelop

The disaster of Tacoma´s bridge

No word are needed. Just see it