Bridges (cable trays) are metallic or non-metallic structures used to support and protect cables and pipelines, and are widely used in the fields of construction, electric power, and telecommunications. Although it looks like ‘behind the scenes’, but there are some interesting events and cold knowledge. 1!

1. Bridge ‘Metamorphosis’ - from wood to smart 

Event: The earliest ‘bridge’ was actually a wooden channel, used for telegraph lines in the 19th century.

Interesting: 

Modern bridge materials include steel, aluminium, FRP (fire and corrosion resistant), and even smart bridges - with built-in sensors to monitor cable temperatures, loads and prevent fires.

A data centre in Dubai uses AI to analyse bridge vibration data to detect cable ageing in advance. 2.

2. bridge ‘back’ event - the culprit of the U.S. blackout?

Event: In 2003, the U.S. blackout affected 50 million people, and the investigation found that part of the cause was a defective design of cable bridges.

Interesting point: 

The cables overheated, causing deformation of the bridges and short circuits triggered a chain reaction.

Since then the U.S. mandatory requirement to increase the bridge cooling holes and fire coating. 3.

3. ‘Artistic’ Bridges - Hidden Urban Landscapes 

Event: An art gallery in Berlin designed cable bridges as ‘metal vines’, which have become a hit on the Internet.

Interesting: 

The architects used bridges to imitate the growth curves of plants, which is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

In a commercial street in Chengdu, China, bridges are painted in rainbow colours to hide the industrial feel. 4.

4. Bridge ‘Challenge’ - the world's longest submarine cable bridge 

Event: The North Sea Link submarine cable project from Norway to the UK has a record-breaking length for a single section of bridge.

Interesting point: 

Underwater bridges need to resist high pressure, corrosion and shark bites (literally! Sharks love to bite cables).

The engineers wrapped the bridges in Kevlar to prevent them from biting.

5. Bridge ‘cutting corners’ led to strange accidents 

Incident: A construction site in India used bamboo to pretend to be a metal bridge, resulting in the cables being gnawed by rats.

Interesting point: 

The contractor used bamboo structures coated with silver paint to save money, which was passed off during acceptance.

The rats chewed through the cables and caused a power outage throughout the mall, and the contractor was sentenced.

6. Bridge ‘Stealth’ - Hidden in Historic Buildings 

Event: During the restoration of Notre Dame in Paris, engineers used 3D printed bridges to match the texture of ancient stone carvings.

Interesting: 

The bridges were designed in a Gothic pattern, making them completely invisible to visitors to a modern facility.

A similar technique was used to modify the electrical circuits of the Forbidden City.

7. Bridges ‘Forced to Operate’ - Secret Passages for Animals 

Event: A zoo in Australia used bridges to build a ‘sky corridor’ for squirrel monkeys.

Interesting: 

Monkeys use the bridge as a slide and hide food in it.

Monkeys use the bridge as a slide and hide food in it, so the keepers have to clean out the ‘bridge snack bank’ on a regular basis.

8. Bridge ‘black technology’ - self-cleaning and power generation 

Event: Japan developed a solar-powered bridge, covered with photovoltaic panels to power street lights.

Interesting point: 

A bridge in the Netherlands is coated with titanium dioxide, which automatically decomposes dust by rainwater.

In the future, it may be possible to realise ‘charging as you go’ electric roads (bridges with integrated wireless charging).

9. Bridges ‘Confusing Behaviour’ - when they become a tool for crime 

Incident: Thieves in the US used bridges to climb into the ceiling of a bank to steal cash, and got stuck halfway through.

Interesting: 

The bridge collapsed under the load, and the thief was surrounded by security guards as he fell into the office.

Police reminder: ‘Bridges are not the ventilation ducts in Call of Duty!’

10. Bridge ‘cold knowledge’ - why is it called ‘bridge’ frame?

Event: The name comes from the early days when cables were laid in the air, spanning both ends like a ‘bridge’.

Interesting: 

The Chinese word ‘bridge’ translates directly into English as ‘Cable Tray’, but the Russian word is ‘cradle of cables’.

The cable trays on the ISS are essentially ‘space bridges’.