In this light truss bridge each side truss has 16 elements. Of these, seven are in compression and are fabricated as lattice beams. The remaining nine elements are only in tension and are composed of eyebars. Shear and bending forces are accommodated completely within the deck structure.
In structural engineering and construction, an eyebar is a straight bar, usually of metal, with a hole ("eye") at each end for fixing to other components. Eyebars are used in structures such as bridges, in settings in which only tension, and never compression, is applied. Also referred to as "pin- and eyebar construction" in instances where pins are being used.[1]
^Sparks, S. Patrick, and Marc E. Badoux. "Non-Destructive Evaluation of a Historic Wrought-Iron Truss Bridge in New Braunfels, Texas". APT Bulletin 29, no. 1 (1998): 5–10. doi:10.2307/1504542.