On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 15:15:26 UTC, Tony Polson wrote:

: "Ian Johnston" wrote:
:
: I wonder about suspension bridges. I suspect the wires are just too
: much an area of concentrated strength, and would probably cheesecutter
: the wings off. It would still be a heck of a mess, of course.
:
: The deck at mid-span is a vulnerable point.

More than elsewhere? After all, if it's a theoretical suspension
bridge - uniform loading across span, parabolic cables - it should be
possible to slice across the deck as often as you like. Still, I
suppose it's a place where deck and cables are conveniently grouped as
a target.

: Or fly through the
: suspension hangers, which support the deck from the suspension cables.
: You would only need to sever a (relatively) small number to result in
: the surrounding hangers failing through being over-stressed.

That certainly sounds a possibility. Mind you, some suspension bridges
are very tough - I was amazed that they managed to repair the
foorbridge over the Ness in Inverness on which one of the suspension
cables broke. Looked like a hell of a mess, half collapsed into the
river.

However - isn't this a gruesome discussion? - I suspect there just
wouldn't be the casualty figures these people require. Heavily
populated / occupied areas will always be more attractive.

Ian


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