University of Cambridge

Steel Bridges in Japan

H. K. D. H. Bhadeshia

AkashiBridge
The Akashi Kaikyo bridge, a 3-span 2-hinged truss-stiffened suspension bridge. completed in 1998. It connects Kobe with Awaji Island. It is the world's longest suspension bridge, with a span between the towers of 1.9 km. (Photograph courtesy of Professor Nobutaka Yurioka).
AkashiBridgeConstruction
This is the bridge during the construction stage. It is made using steel. There is enough steel wire to cricle the earth seven times! It is designed to withstand an earthquake of Richter 8.5 magnitude. (Photograph courtesy of Professor Nobutaka Yurioka).
OsakaNankoHT780
This bridge connects Osaka Nanko with Chikko. It is made using high tensile strength steel HT780. (Photograph courtesy of Professor Nobutaka Yurioka).


The Akashi Kaikyo bridge bridge is in an earthquake zone. A major earthquake occurred during the construction of the bridge, which survived unscathed. There is a museum built on the fault where the displacement occurred, on Awaji Island.

Akashi Kaikyo bridge, Japan, longest single-span bridge
The crack that displaced a drain.
Akashi Kaikyo bridge, Japan, longest single-span bridge
An upward displacement by about a metre.
Akashi Kaikyo bridge, Japan, longest single-span bridge Akashi Kaikyo bridge, Japan, longest single-span bridge
Massive ground movement.
Akashi Kaikyo bridge, Japan, longest single-span bridge Akashi Kaikyo bridge, Japan, longest single-span bridge
Picture taken while travelling on the bridge by road.
Akashi Kaikyo bridge, Japan, longest single-span bridge
Professor Hidetoshi Fujii, standing next to a section of the main cable, which is composed of pearlitic steel wires.
Akashi Kaikyo bridge, Japan, longest single-span bridge
A Japanese colleague with Harry on the right, a view from Awaji island.
Akashi Kaikyo bridge, Japan, longest single-span bridge Akashi Kaikyo bridge, Japan, longest single-span bridge
Akashi Kaikyo bridge, Japan, longest single-span bridge

4th edition
4th edition, 2017
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Innovations in everyday engineering materials
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Theory of transformations in steels
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