Snapping Suspension Bridge | National Geographic

the Forth Road Bridge is outfitted with

the Forth Road Bridge is outfitted with a temporary elevator taking us up to a

a temporary elevator taking us up to a

a temporary elevator taking us up to a work platform on the suspension cable

work platform on the suspension cable

work platform on the suspension cable this cable is corroding this is the

this cable is corroding this is the

this cable is corroding this is the first bridge to install an experimental

first bridge to install an experimental

first bridge to install an experimental technology to try to stop it it starts

technology to try to stop it it starts

technology to try to stop it it starts with wrapping the entire cable with

with wrapping the entire cable with

with wrapping the entire cable with rubber to make it airtight so that’s

rubber to make it airtight so that’s

rubber to make it airtight so that’s done cable right there that’s rough

done cable right there that’s rough

done cable right there that’s rough let’s set up cable inside small wires

let’s set up cable inside small wires

let’s set up cable inside small wires are tightly bound but being round there

are tightly bound but being round there

are tightly bound but being round there are pockets of air between them moisture

are pockets of air between them moisture

are pockets of air between them moisture seeps into these spaces and that

seeps into these spaces and that

seeps into these spaces and that corrodes the metal they’ll use a sort of

corrodes the metal they’ll use a sort of

corrodes the metal they’ll use a sort of giant hairdryer to pump dehumidified air

giant hairdryer to pump dehumidified air

giant hairdryer to pump dehumidified air into those tiny spaces to get it dry and

into those tiny spaces to get it dry and

into those tiny spaces to get it dry and keep it dry that’s one of the inlets for

keep it dry that’s one of the inlets for

keep it dry that’s one of the inlets for the dry air right there but like I said

the dry air right there but like I said

the dry air right there but like I said this is experimental there are no

this is experimental there are no

this is experimental there are no guarantees of success they need a way to

guarantees of success they need a way to

guarantees of success they need a way to know if they’re successfully preventing

know if they’re successfully preventing

know if they’re successfully preventing further corrosion in the wires a complex

further corrosion in the wires a complex

further corrosion in the wires a complex system of monitors will gather data to

system of monitors will gather data to

system of monitors will gather data to let them know if the experiment is

let them know if the experiment is

let them know if the experiment is working for instance microphones can

working for instance microphones can

working for instance microphones can actually listen to the cable for the

actually listen to the cable for the

actually listen to the cable for the distinct sound of a wire snapping you

distinct sound of a wire snapping you

distinct sound of a wire snapping you get not and you know if you want to get

get not and you know if you want to get

get not and you know if you want to get it in your mobile phone you as a choir

these guys have the wrapping under

these guys have the wrapping under control but I have another job in mind

control but I have another job in mind

control but I have another job in mind I’m heading up to the top of the tower

I’m heading up to the top of the tower

I’m heading up to the top of the tower where the cable is already wrapped I’ll

where the cable is already wrapped I’ll

where the cable is already wrapped I’ll meet the team installing the sensors on

meet the team installing the sensors on

meet the team installing the sensors on the cable they’re running data lines

the cable they’re running data lines

the cable they’re running data lines from there all the way down to the

from there all the way down to the

from there all the way down to the engineers on the ground it’s the getting

engineers on the ground it’s the getting

engineers on the ground it’s the getting down part that I’m interested in wait

down part that I’m interested in wait

down part that I’m interested in wait till you see this

really tight quarters in here after all

really tight quarters in here after all the towers of these suspension bridges

the towers of these suspension bridges

the towers of these suspension bridges not really built the tourist rate these

not really built the tourist rate these

not really built the tourist rate these are the guys I’ll be working with today

are the guys I’ll be working with today

are the guys I’ll be working with today I got your lunch

it’s a cricket’s way to ingratiate

it’s a cricket’s way to ingratiate yourself with any new crew bring once