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Author Topic: Suspension Bridge  (Read 519 times)

ragincajun

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Suspension Bridge
« on: September 12, 2015, 03:37:38 pm »

I want to undertake a construction project.  I'm thinking a suspension bridge between two towers, about 10 z-levels up.  However, in building small keeps outside, in trying to put floors up over the open area, I suffer collapses.  What is the largest area you can suspend a floor/bridge without a collapse occurring and what can I do underneath to prevent this?  Would a 2x2 pillar suffice midway, our several of these periodically?


wwww.....................................wwww
w    w................P......................w    w
wwww......................................wwww

w is the tower walls
.... is the bridge placement with open space below it (or floor placement is what it would actually be)
P would be a proposed piller, either 2x2 or even better a 3x3 with a stairway in the central part for movement up and down.  If this is actually needed.  I'd prefer the free standing just for aesthetics. 
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GiantCaveMushroom

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Re: Suspension Bridge
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2015, 04:55:59 pm »

I'm assuming you're using the 'building' bridge. Raising or retracted bridges can't hold floors. If you build a floor next to a bridge without any other construction adjacent to it, it will instantly cave in.

Dwarven physics is kind of weird, there shouldn't be any need for pillars IF you are using floor constructions (b)(C)(f).
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PatrikLundell

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Re: Suspension Bridge
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2015, 05:34:17 pm »

As GiantCaveMushroom indicated, there is no limit to the length or amount of structure that can be supported, as long as a supporting connection exists. A single bar of ash in one corner of the embark can support a 200 tile high massive structure covering the whole embark above the wall made from the bar.

If you want to use bridges (which saves on material) the span is 20 tiles (1 pylon supporting a 10 tile bridge from one direction, and the next pylon supporting another 10 tile bridge from the other direction. You'd probably build the pillar as an up/down staircase to the side of the bridge. The pylon would support one bridge to the side, but you'd need a second tile (a floor) to support the bridge in the other direction.

 ....
 BBBB
 OBBB
Dbbbb
 bbbb
 ....

where
B = North bridge
O = Floor tile, on top of which the North bridge starts (you could also have this floor beside the bridge)
D = Down staircase
b = South bridge
.... = bridge continues, up to the maximum bridge length of 10

Or, prettier:

 ....
 BBBB
 BBBB
DFFFFD
 bbbb
 bbbb
 ....

where F = Floor
still resulting in 20 tiles between the supports, but the support adding an additional tile.

Edit: Corrected the second description.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2015, 01:12:15 am by PatrikLundell »
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Bearskie

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Re: Suspension Bridge
« Reply #3 on: September 14, 2015, 04:32:56 am »

Baaaaasically, it's alot easier to just build the bridge with floors and walls, not bridges.

Akura

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Re: Suspension Bridge
« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2015, 06:30:54 am »

Easier, but requires more resources and dwarfpower. Might take less time though, depending on when your architect gets off his lazy arse to build it.
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