CHAPTER-5
Bridge Structure &
Engineering
expressions in
architecture
A Bridge is a structure which
allows us, cattle, vehicles,
trains, pipelines etc. to cross
water body, road & railway
track etc. smoothly.
Bridges are structures used by people and vehicles
to make crossing areas easier in travel.
Engineers build bridges over rivers, lakes, ravines,
canyons, railroads, and highways.
Bridges must be built strong enough to safely
support their own weight as well as the weight of
the people and vehicles that pass over it.
The bridge must also withstand natural
occurrences that include weathering, earthquakes,
strong winds, and freezing and thawing.
History of Bridge Development
100 B.C. Romans
2,104 years ago
700 A.D. Asia
Clapper Bridge
1,304 years ago
Tree trunk
Stone
Roman Arch Bridge
Arch design
evenly distributes
stresses Great Stone Bridge in China
Natural concrete Low bridge
made from mud Shallow arch
and straw Allows boats
and water to
pass
through
History of Bridge Development
1900
1920
Truss Bridges
Mechanics of
Design
Wood
2000
Suspension Bridges
Use of steel in
suspending cables
Prestressed
Concrete
Steel
Some Uses of Bridges
Walkways
Highways/Roads
Railways
Pipelines
Connecting lands
Crossing canals, rivers
and canyons
Types of Bridge
(1) As per function of Bridge:
(a) Aqueduct (Canal over a river) Bridge,
(b) Viaduct (road or railway over valley) Bridge,
(c) Pedestrian Bridge,
(d) Highways Bridge,
(e) Railway Bridge,
(f) Road Bridge,
(g) Pipeline Bridge.
Types of Bridge
(2) As per material of construction of Bridge:
(a) Timber Bridge,
(b) Masonry Bridge,
(c) Steel Bridge,
(d) R. C. C. Bridge,
(e) P. S. C. Bridge,
(f) Composite Bridge
Types of Bridge
(3) As per type of Superstructure of Bridge:
(a) Slab Bridge,
(b) Girder & Slab Bridge,
(c) Truss Bridge,
(d) Arch Bridge,
(e) Box Girder Bridge,
(f) Cable Stayed Bridge
(f) Suspension Bridge
Types of Bridge
(4) As per inter span relation of Bridge:
(a) Simply Supported Span Bridge,
(b) Continuous Span Bridge,
(c) Cantilever Span Bridge
Types of Bridge
(6) As per length of Bridge : (Ref IRC 5:1998)
(a) Culvert (Length less than 6m),
(b) Minor Bridge (Length 6 to 60m),
(a) Major Bridge (Length more than 60m)
See the Types of Bridges
Arch
Truss
Cantilever
Cable-Stayed
Suspension
Forces
Compression – a
pushing or squeezing
force
Tension – a pulling or
stretching force
Types of Bridge
Arch Bridges
Keystone – the wedge-shaped stone of an arch that
locks its parts together
Abutments – the structures that support the ends of
the bridge
Deck Arc- directly supports the traffic loads is found
on top of the crown of the arch.
Arch Bridges
Works by
Compression
Arch Bridges
Examples of Arch bridges
Arch Bridge - Cold Spring Arch Bridge,
Santa Barbara, USA
Marsh Rainbow Arch, USA
Pont du Gard, Nimes, France
Cable-Stayed Bridges
Piers – the vertical supporting structures
Cables – thick steel ropes from which the decking
is suspended
Decking – the supported roadway on a bridge
Cable-Stayed Bridges
Works by Tension AND Compression
Cable-Stayed Bridges
Examples of Cable Stayed bridges
Zakim Bridge, Boston
Sunshine Skyway Bridge, USA
Sundial Bridge, Redding, USA
Suspension Bridges
Similar to Cable-Stayed
Different construction method
Suspension Bridges
Works by Tension and Compression
Suspension Bridges
Examples of Suspension bridges:
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn, NY
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, New York
Truss Bridge
All beams in a truss bridge are straight.
Trusses are comprised of many small beams
that together can support a large amount of
weight and span great distances.
Components of Bridges
Foundation –Pile, Well.
Substructure – Abutment, Wing Walls, Pier, Pier Cap,
Pedestal.
Superstructure – Girder + Slab / Box Girder, Parapet, Crash
Barrier.
Bearings – Elastomeric Bearing, Metallic Bearing,
Pot, Pot cum PTFE, Pin and Metallic Bearing
Codes for Bridge Design
IRC 5 : 1998 – Standard Specification and code of
Practice for Road Bridges – Section I – General
Features of Design.
IRC 6 : 2000 – Section II – Loads & Stresses
IRC 21 : 2000 – Section III – Cement Concrete (Plain &
Reinforced)
IRC 78 : 2000 – Section VII – Foundation &
Substructure
Codes for Bridge Design
IRC 83 (Part I) : 1999 – Section IX – Bearings –
Metallic Bearing
IRC 83 (Part II) : 1987 – Section IX – Bearings –
Elastomeric Bearing
IRC 83 (Part III) : 2002 – Section IX – Bearings – Pot,
Pot cum PTFE, Pin and Metallic Bearing
IRC 18 : 2000 – Design criteria for Prestressed Concrete
Road Bridges – Post Tension Concrete. Etc.
Structural Design of Bridge
Structural Design – It is science and art of designing
with economy and elegance,
a durable structure which can safely carry the
design forces
can serve the desired function satisfactorily in
working environment during its intended
service life span.
Structural Design of Bridge
Objective and Basic Requirements of Structural
Design:
(i) Safety,
(ii) Serviceability,
(iii) Durability,
(iv) Economy,
(v) Aesthetics &
(vi) Feasibility.
Structural Design of Bridge
Stages of Structural Design:
(i) Structural Planning,
(ii) Determination of Loads,
(iii) Analysis,
(iv) Member Design,
(v) Drawing, Detailing & Preparation of
schedules.
Structural Design of Bridge
Loads :
(i) Dead Loads,
(ii) Dynamic load,
(iii) Live Loads.
Bridge Engineering
The factor that affect bridge
Ground below bridge
Loads
Materials
Shapes
Bridge Engineering
To design a bridge you need to take into account all the forces
acting on it:
•The friction of the earth on every part
•The strength of the ground pushing up the supports
•The resistance of the ground to the pull of the cables
•The dead weight and all vehicle loads
• the drag and lift produced by wind and water
•The turbulence as fluids pass the towers
Need to use appropriate materials and structural shapes in
the cheapest way, yet maintaining a certain degree of
safety.
To account for natural disasters, engineers design bridges
with a factor of safety: usually around 3 or 4.
Assignment -5 marks
Why are there different types of bridges?
• The major difference between the three types
of bridges is the distance that they can cover
in a single span. Span is the difference
between two supports. Each of the different
types of bridges holds weight in different
ways.
Beam Bridge
• A beam bridge is basically a rigid horizontal
structure that rest on two supports, one located
at each end of the bridge as shown in Figure (a). A
simple beam bridge is flat across and supported
by two ends.
What happens to the bridge when a load is put on the bridge?
• When the load pushes down on the
beam the top edge is pushed together
or compressed, while the bottom of the
beam is stretched or is under tension.
What factor(s) should you consider when you build a beam
bridge?
• The beam must be strong enough so that it
doesn't bend under its own weight and the
added weight of the traffic crossing it.
Arch Bridge
• An arch bridge is composed of a curved structure
with abutments on each end.
What happens to the bridge when a load is put on the
bridge?
• The weight of the load is carried outward
along the curve of the arch to the abutments
at each end of the arch. The abutments also
keep the end of the bridge from spreading
outward.
What factor(s) should you consider when you build an arch
bridge?
• The arch bridge is always under compression
because the weight of the deck is pushed
outward along the curve of the arch towards the
abutments. The rise in the form of the curved
arch causes the vertical load to have a horizontal
thrust.
Suspension Bridge
• The suspension bridge literally suspends the
roadbed from huge cables, which extends
from one end of the bridge to the other. The
cables are attached to two tall towers and are
secured at each end by anchorages.
What happens to the bridge when a load is put on the
bridge?
• The cable carries the weight on a suspended
bridge to the anchorages that are imbedded in
solid rock or massive concrete blocks. The cables
are spread over a large area in order to evenly
distribute the load inside the anchorages to
prevent the cables from breaking free.
What factor(s) should you consider when you build a
suspension bridge?
• The anchorages help to stabilise the bridge.
Therefore, the tower must be embedded to
earth firmly. In such a way, the cables transfer
the forces to the towers which carry the
forces directly into the earth where they are
firmly imbedded.
Project #2
Part A - Custom Bridge
Explanation:
• The students will research and design their own bridge using the Internet. After
their research of bridges is complete they will come up with their own design and
construction of a bridge. Students are to use the pre-cut pieces of wood, glue, and
base. Overall dimensional constrains will be given at a later time. Duration for this
project is 6 weeks.
• Student Requirements
• - Internet Research
• - Select materials
• - Create a design
• - Determine size
• - Create a full scale set of plans with dimensions
• - Determine and learn required tools and machines to create your stool.
• - Build your bridge
• Total Points Possible
• Complete custom stool 100 Pts.
Part B – Bridge Construction Term Papers
Explanation:
• Students will write a short term paper about their process in creating their bridge.
This paper is dived into three areas. Section 1 is about student research and
design, material selection, advantages and disadvantages of materials, and cost of
materials. Section 2 is about the actual bridge building making process in the lab,
tool, machines, and safety. The final part is a summary of the whole process and
the completion of a shop stool.
• Student Requirements
• - Students research established stools an Internet
• - Students research material selection
• - Students explain why they selected their materials
• - Students write first draft of term paper
• - Students revise term paper
• - Students hand in final draft of term paper (3 pages).
• Total Points Possible
• Shop Stool term paper 100 Pts.
