What do you mean by the term reversal of stresses?

In certain long trusses the web members can develop either tension or compression depending upon the
position of live loads. This tendency to change the nature of stresses is called reversal of stresses.
What are stiffening girders? Discuss their uses and types
As we know the shape of a loaded cable is funicular under the load system supported by it. However, in
practice due to the application of moving load systems over the bridges the shape of the cable is ever
changing. To maintain the designed shape of the cable and to provide uniformly distributed load condition
for parabolic configuration, two three-hinged or two-hinged stiffening girders supported by closely spaced
hangers or suspenders connected to the cables are provided as shown in Figure below. The external loads
carried by the two main girders are transferred to the cable as uniformly distributed load.
Stiffening girders with three hinges are statically determinate whereas those with two hinges are
statically indeterminate.

Unstiffened suspension Cable Bridge

Stiffened suspension Cable Bridge