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Although suspension bridges are among the longest bridges, and most are well-built, the design does include features that make them more susceptible to failure. Rather than a rigidly-connected skeleton, a cable bridge is held in place by its own weight, which maintains a constant tension.

The cables supporting the roadway are balanced, and if any fail, the change in weight can cause a complete collapse. Cables must be inspected regularly for corrosion, wear, or slippage.

Shifts in the foundation of any bridge can cause it to fall, but because there are fewer supports in the cable bridge, any change will tend to have greater effect.

High winds can cause structural failure of a poorly-designed bridge by causing swinging oscillations known as "aeroelastic flutter." This causes a twisting motion that can warp or crumble the bridge deck.

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14y ago

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