ABSTRACT
The outstanding feature of suspension bridges throughout history has been their susceptibility to destruction by wind. The importance and influence of the bridge weight itself upon the bridge stiffness was first realised by John A. Roebling at the time of the construction of the Niagara Falls Bridge. The importance of the early 19th century bridges lies in the creation of a technology appropriate to long span suspension bridges and in the formation of a body of suspension bridge theory. English suspension bridges were first built after the final defeat of Napoleon. Telford designed the Menai bridge, in 1817—18 and Captain Brown's Union Bridge at Norham Ford was opened in 1820. The development of the suspension bridge is characterised by rapid advances followed by lengthy periods of consolidation. Engineers had formed the rather convenient assumption that bridge decks were always heavy enough to exceed any known wind uplift.
