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Suspension Bridge Apparatus | FortiTestX – 25

Suspension Bridge Apparatus FortiTestX 25 is a benchtop strength of materials lab equipment unit for the investigation of suspension bridge behaviour under dead weight, distributed load, and point loads across multiple load cases. The model features a 526 mm span with two parallel supporting cables in parabolic sag of approximately 80 mm, 13 U-shaped graduated hangers, a two-section roadway with central hinge (dead weight 987 g), and four force gauges measuring cable and support forces (0 to 100 N, 0.5 N graduation). The central hinge allows direct visual observation of internal moments under uneven loading. Eight defined experiments cover cable force calculation, calculated versus measured value comparison, internal moment observation, and load distribution analysis. A weight set of 10 x 0.5 N hangers and 500 x 0.1 N weights is supplied for loading. Optional LabVIEW-based software (FX-25) enables data logging on Windows. This suspension bridge apparatus strength of materials lab equipment unit is manufactured by SCIENTICO to ISO 9001:2015 standards; CE marked.


Suspension Bridge Apparatus FortiTestX 25 is a benchtop strength of materials lab equipment unit designed for the investigation of suspension bridge behaviour under dead weight, evenly distributed load, and unevenly distributed point loads across a range of load cases. This Suspension Bridge Apparatus models a full suspension bridge with two parallel supporting cables, U-shaped graduated hangers forming a parabolic sag, a two-section roadway with central hinge, and four force gauges measuring cable and support forces. The FortiTestX 25 covers supporting cable force calculation, internal moment observation, and load distribution analysis, making it a complete suspension bridge apparatus strength of materials lab equipment unit for undergraduate civil and structural engineering programmes.


Product Overview

The Suspension Bridge Apparatus FortiTestX 25 is a self-contained strength of materials lab equipment unit representing a suspension bridge model for experimental structural analysis. The bridge consists of two parallel supporting cables with a parabolic sag of approximately 80 mm across a span of approximately 526 mm. Thirteen U-shaped shackles of graduated lengths act as vertical hangers, connecting the roadway to the supporting cables at regular intervals. Two pulleys act as pylons, with the suspension wire passing across them and connecting to force gauges. The two-section roadway has a central hinge that allows internal moments resulting from uneven loading to be directly observed as roadway buckling. Two force gauges measure the tensile forces in both supporting cables, and two additional supports with force gauges measure the support reaction forces, enabling the load distribution between the roadway supports and the supporting cables to be examined quantitatively. The roadway has a dead weight of 987 g and can be loaded with additional weights: 10 x 0.5 N hangers and 500 x 0.1 N weights. Support force gauges have a measuring range of 0 to 100 N with 0.5 N graduation. All components are neatly organised and stored in a dedicated storage system within the frame. Optional LabVIEW-based software (FX-25) enables data logging and results processing on any Windows operating system.

Suspension Bridge Apparatus FortiTestX 25 – Technical Specifications

Field Details
Product Name Suspension Bridge Apparatus FortiTestX 25
Model Reference FortiTestX 25
Product Category Strength of Materials Lab Equipment
Apparatus Type Benchtop suspension bridge investigation unit
Bridge Span Approximately 526 mm
Supporting Cable Sag Approximately 80 mm (parabolic)
Number of Supporting Cables 2
Hangers (Shackles) 13, U-shaped, graduated lengths
Roadway Dead Weight 987 g
Roadway Configuration Two-section with central hinge
Support Force Gauge Range 0 to 100 N
Support Force Gauge Graduation 0.5 N
Force Gauges 2 for supporting cables, 2 in supports
Pulleys 2 (acting as pylons)
Optional Software FX-25 (LabVIEW-based DAQ, Windows compatible)
Manufacturer SCIENTICO, Ambala Cantt, India
Certifications ISO 9001:2015, CE Marked

Technical Data — Weights

Item Quantity
0.5 N (hanger) 10
0.1 N 500

Technical Data — Supporting Cable

Parameter Value
Bridge Span Approximately 526 mm
Cable Sag Approximately 80 mm
Number of Cables 2
Cable Profile Parabolic

Technical Data — Force Measurement

Parameter Value
Support Force Gauge Range 0 to 100 N
Support Force Gauge Graduation 0.5 N
Cable Force Gauges 2 (one per supporting cable)
Support Force Gauges 2 (one per support)

Key Features

  • Complete Unit: Suspension bridge apparatus strength of materials lab equipment unit with frame, cables, hangers, roadway, force gauges, weights, and storage system all supplied
  • Bridge Span: Approximately 526 mm; supporting cable parabolic sag approximately 80 mm
  • Supporting Cables: 2 parallel cables with parabolic sag profile
  • Hangers: 13 U-shaped shackles in graduated lengths connecting roadway to supporting cables at regular intervals
  • Roadway: Two-section design with central hinge; dead weight 987 g
  • Central Hinge: Allows direct visual observation of internal moments under uneven loading as roadway buckling
  • Force Measurement: 2 cable force gauges and 2 support force gauges (0 to 100 N, 0.5 N graduation)
  • Pylons: 2 pulleys acting as deflection rollers for the supporting cables
  • Weight Set: 10 x 0.5 N hangers and 500 x 0.1 N weights for point and distributed loading
  • Storage System: All components organised and housed securely within the frame
  • Optional Software (FX-25): LabVIEW-based, Windows compatible, data logging and results processing
  • Certifications: ISO 9001:2015 certified; CE marked

Experiments

  • Familiarisation with a suspension bridge under dead weight
  • Familiarisation with a suspension bridge under additional load
  • Familiarisation with a suspension bridge under evenly distributed load
  • Familiarisation with a suspension bridge under unevenly distributed point loads
  • Calculation of the supporting cable force
  • Comparison between calculated and measured values of the supporting cable force
  • Observation of the effect of internal moments in the roadway under uneven load
  • Load distribution between roadway support and supporting cable

Construction and Design

Suspension Bridge Apparatus FortiTestX 25 is constructed as a rigid benchtop strength of materials lab equipment unit with the complete suspension bridge model mounted within a structural frame. Two parallel supporting cables run across the span of approximately 526 mm, passing over two pulleys acting as pylons, and connecting to force gauges that measure cable tensile forces. Thirteen U-shaped shackles of graduated lengths hang from the supporting cables at regular intervals, holding the two-section roadway in place and forcing the cables into a parabolic sag of approximately 80 mm. The roadway has a dead weight of 987 g and is loaded using the supplied weight set via hangers placed at defined positions along the deck. A central hinge divides the roadway into two sections. Under uneven loading, the hinge allows the roadway to buckle visibly, making internal bending moments directly observable without measurement instruments. Two force gauges in the roadway supports measure support reaction forces alongside the two cable force gauges, enabling full quantitative load distribution analysis between the supports and the supporting cables. All components of this suspension bridge apparatus are neatly organised and stored in a dedicated storage system within the frame. All construction and materials conform to ISO 9001:2015 quality standards and meet CE marking requirements.


Software – FX-25 (Optional)

Customised software designed in the National Instruments LabVIEW environment for data logging and results processing. Compatible with any Windows-based operating system. The software is optional and selected independently of the base unit.


Scope of Delivery

  • 1 x Experimental unit (Suspension Bridge Apparatus FortiTestX 25)
  • 10 x Sets of weights (10 x 0.5 N hangers, 500 x 0.1 N weights)
  • 2 x Pulleys
  • 1 x Thread
  • 1 x Instruction manual

Q1: How is the parabolic cable sag achieved in the Suspension Bridge Apparatus FortiTestX 25?
Thirteen U-shaped shackles of graduated lengths connect the roadway to the two supporting cables at regular intervals. The roadway acts as a distributed load on the cables, and the combination of regular hanger spacing and distributed loading forces the cables into a natural parabolic sag of approximately 80 mm across the 526 mm span.

Q2: How are internal moments in the roadway observed in the FortiTestX 25?
The roadway is divided into two sections by a central hinge. When the bridge is loaded unevenly with point loads, the hinge allows the roadway to buckle visibly at the centre. This buckling directly indicates the presence and approximate magnitude of internal bending moments in the roadway without requiring additional measurement instruments.

Q3: How many force gauges are included and what do they measure?
Four force gauges are included. Two measure the tensile forces in the two supporting cables, and two are located in the roadway supports to measure support reaction forces. Together they allow the full load distribution between the supporting cables and the roadway supports to be examined quantitatively.

Q4: What load types can be applied to the Suspension Bridge Apparatus FortiTestX 25?
The bridge can be loaded under its own dead weight (987 g roadway), under evenly distributed load, and under unevenly distributed point loads using the supplied weight set of 10 x 0.5 N hangers and 500 x 0.1 N weights placed at defined positions along the bridge deck.

Q5: What is the support force gauge measuring range and graduation?
The support force gauges have a measuring range of 0 to 100 N with a graduation of 0.5 N, providing sufficient resolution for the load levels applied in all defined suspension bridge apparatus experiments.

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Scientico India delivered CE-certified laboratory equipment for our engineering programme on schedule. Documentation was complete and instruments were well calibrated.

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