The Role of Struts in Suspension and Cable-Stayed Structures

Understanding the Role of Struts in Suspension and Cable-Stayed Structures

Strut Definition and Purpose: The student's question describes a component of a structure that is responsible for supporting vertical force components from primary and guy cables in a suspension or cable-stayed structure. The answer to this question is Strut. A strut is typically a structural component designed to resist compression or tension along its length.

Functionality of Struts: In these structures, a strut can be inclined to help absorb some of the horizontal thrust from the cables, reducing the force in the guy wires. The architectural and engineering principles at work involve transferring the loads through the mast to the ground while managing the forces to maintain the integrity of the structure.

For example, in a suspension bridge scenario, where the bridge is represented by heavy flexible connectors such as large cables, they must resist the tension without excessive stretching or sagging. Compression in a tall building like the Comcast Building is addressed by using dampers, such as a tuned liquid-column mass damper, to reduce oscillations caused by wind and seismic activity.