History of the Modern Suspension Bridge: Solving the Dilemma Between Economy and Stiffness"When he was thinking about how to build a bridge across the River Tweed, Sir Samuel Brown stopped while observing a spider's web. Right at this time he discovered the suspension bridge." ?Charles Bender, 1868. The English translation of Tadaki Kawada's landmark book traces the modern suspension bridge from its earliest appearance in Western civilization only 200 years ago to the enormous Akashi Kaikyo and Storeb lt bridges completed at the end of the twentieth century. This book examines the conflicts, the bridge collapses, the colorful personalities, and the advancements that have shaped the development of the suspension bridge. This book will appeal to anyone interested in engineering history and suspension bridges. Practicing engineers will find the charts, tables, and design formulas especially valuable. Praise for This Book "Anyone interested in suspension bridges from an engineering point of view or who appreciates the grace of such structures will enjoy tracing their development, which is so well documented in this book. ... This English translation of the Japanese work by noted engineer and suspension bridge designer Kawada provides a comprehensive history of these bridges and explains the issues related to economy and stiffness very well. ... wonderful supplemental reading for anyone studying bridges...." Highly recommended. ?H.I. Epstein, University of Connecticut, Choice, Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, October 2010. |