So important are embedded structural steel wires, making bridges and tunnels safe and strong enough for people to cross. (These strong steel wires can help keep bridges and tunnels secure for everyone to use.) Now let’s find out more about how bridges and tunnels can be made even more amazing using steel wires.

Bridges/tunnels with improved structural strength(from steel wire):

Steel wires are like little, powerful threads that are used to make bridges and tunnels even stronger. With the introduction of steel wires in the concrete and other building ingredients, the strength of the total structure is enhanced. This is why bridges and tunnels can bear heavier loads — and withstand extreme forces, such as wind and earthquakes — without collapsing. Steel wires cooperate with other materials to build a durable and safe environment for human use.

Multi-functionality of Steel wires for Infrastructure reinforcement:

“It’s a very versatile material that we can use in many ways to make bridges and tunnels stronger,” said Michael Stevens, a bridge engineer at the Colorado Department of Transportation. Those can be woven into a strong mesh that can be inserted into structures to reinforce them. Steel wires can also be twisted to create cables, which are then used to support bridges and tunnels. That versatility enables engineers to come up with innovative ways to use steel wires and make infrastructure stronger and safer.

Enhanced reliability and tensile strength through steel wire reinforcement:

Bridges and tunnels with steel wires are more robust and can survive events that would otherwise close them down. This makes them last longer and able to stand up to wear and tear over time. These steel wires help protect the structure from cracks and other visible damage, thus reinforcing the structure against further damage that can often weaken it. Steel wire reinforcement will allow bridges and tunnels to stay safe for people to use for decades to come.

New applications of steel wires for high strength:

There’s always some new and clever way that engineers figure out how to use steel wires to boost the load capacity of a bridge or tunnel. Engineers can use strategically placed steel wires to apply weight-bearing forces where they are most needed and reduce how much weight the structure has to support overall. This prevents the structure from collapsing when loaded, thus providing the people on top with safety. New steel wire applications are still opening the frontier in bridge and tunnel building.