The Forth Road bridge was opened to traffic in 1964, and at the time of construction was the fourth longest span in the world. It now carries over 65,000 vehicles per day and is a key link in the Scottish transport network. The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA), the owners and operators of the crossing, took the decision in 2003 to carry out a first internal inspection of both main cable…
The paper compares the current and past engineering knowledge and technology used to design bridge wire rope and strand assemblies. The paper looks at strand and rope development including socketing and fabrication procedures for assemblies. Major advancements in these fields along with advanced manufacturing technologies provide higher strength materials for assemblies. Topics discussed will …