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Golden Gate Bridge | The CRAZY Engineering behind it

Lesics・11 minutes read

The Golden Gate Bridge, designed by Mr. Joseph Strauss, utilized a suspension bridge design due to the distance between coastlines. To address the issue of inward bending towers, the main cable was extended and anchored to the ground, while steel connections were strengthened to prevent cracks in the concrete deck.

Insights

  • The Golden Gate Bridge's unique design as a suspension bridge was necessitated by the distance between the coastlines, making other bridge types impractical due to deep piers or extreme height requirements.
  • Innovative engineering solutions such as extending the main cable, anchoring it to the ground, and reinforcing connections between steel suspenders and the concrete deck were crucial in addressing structural challenges and ensuring the bridge's stability.

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Recent questions

  • Who designed the Golden Gate Bridge?

    Joseph Strauss

  • What type of bridge is the Golden Gate Bridge?

    Suspension

  • Why was a conventional beam bridge impractical for the Golden Gate location?

    Deep piers needed

  • What was the main issue with the original suspension bridge design?

    Inward bending of towers

  • How was the stability of the Golden Gate Bridge ensured during construction?

    Steel-to-steel connections

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Summary

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Designing the Golden Gate Bridge: A Summary

  • The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge designed by Mr. Joseph Strauss.
  • A simplified suspension bridge involves erecting two towers at each end of the ocean and suspending a long cable between them.
  • The distance between the Golden Gate coastlines made a conventional beam bridge impractical due to the need for deep piers.
  • An arch bridge was also considered but would require extreme height, leading to complexity in construction.
  • The main issue with the suspension bridge design was the inward bending of towers due to horizontal forces.
  • To counteract this, the main cable was extended and anchored to the ground, reducing tension and cable cross-section.
  • Connections between steel suspenders and the concrete deck were strengthened to prevent cracks using steel-to-steel connections.
  • The construction process involved prefabricating truss members, assembling them on-site, and connecting them to the main cable using suspension cables.
  • The road deck was divided into sections with finger expansion joints to manage thermal expansion, ensuring the bridge's stability.
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