Editing Suspension bridge (section)

=== Comparison with cable-stayed bridge ===
[[Cable-stayed bridge]]s and suspension bridges may appear to be similar, but are quite different in principle and in their construction.

In suspension bridges, large main cables (normally two) hang between the towers and are [[Earth anchor|anchored]] at each end to the ground. The main cables, which are free to move on bearings in the towers, bear the load of the bridge deck. Before the deck is installed, the cables are under [[tension (mechanics)|tension]] from their own weight. Along the main cables smaller cables or rods connect to the bridge deck, which is lifted in sections. As this is done, the tension in the cables increases, as it does with the [[live load]] of traffic crossing the bridge. The tension on the main cables is transferred to the ground at the anchorages and by downwards [[compression member|compression]] on the towers.

<gallery class="center" caption="Difference between types of bridges" widths="250px" heights="75px">
File:Bridge-suspension.svg|Suspension bridge
File:Bridge-fan-cable-stayed.svg|Cable-stayed bridge, fan design
</gallery>

In cable-stayed bridges, the towers are the primary load-bearing structures that transmit the bridge loads to the ground. A [[cantilever]] approach is often used to support the bridge deck near the towers, but lengths further from them are supported by cables running directly to the towers. By design, all static horizontal forces of the cable-stayed bridge are balanced so that the supporting towers do not tend to tilt or slide and so must only resist horizontal forces from the live loads.