Civil Engineering Professional Engineer Practice Exam 2025 - Free PE Practice Questions and Study Guide

The design type of suspension bridges is primarily characterized by the use of cables and towers. In a suspension bridge, the main load-bearing system consists of high-tensile-strength cables that are anchored at both ends and draped over tall towers. This configuration allows the bridge to span long distances while effectively distributing the load from the bridge deck to the towers.

The towers serve as vertical supports that hold the main cables, enabling the structure to transfer vertical loads from the roadway to the ground. The tension in the cables counteracts the weight of the bridge and any additional loads (such as vehicles and pedestrians), allowing for a flexible and robust design that can handle dynamic loads and environmental factors such as wind and earthquakes.

Understanding this system is crucial for recognizing how suspension bridges manage forces compared to other bridge types, which may utilize different structural elements. This knowledge is essential for civil engineering applications, especially in selecting appropriate bridge designs for specific engineering projects.