New techniques for welding

摘要

New bridges with cable-stayed designs have been popping up on highways across the nation, and they have a distinctive, sleek look to them. Rather than looking like the classic suspension bridges that have been in vogue since John A. Roebling spanned the Ohio River in 1866 with what was then the longest suspension bridge in the world, cable-stayed bridges have more of a modern look. They combine the best of suspension bridges with the best of cantilevered bridges, so they provide beauty and strength without the bulk. Senior Editor Richard Mandel looks at the welding techniques developed to build a new cable-stayed bridge that will carry traffic on Interstate 280 through Toledo, Ohio.