Chapter Four

Bridge Types and Selection

 Classification of Bridges

Material Steel Concrete Wood

Hybrid Stone/Brick

Usage Pedestrian Highway Railroad

Span Short Medium Long

Structural F Slab Girder Truss Arch

orm Suspension Cable-Stayed
Discussion on Classification According to structural form

1. Distinctive Features of Girder Bridge

2. Distinctive Features of Arch Bridge

3. Distinctive Features of Truss Bridge

4. Distinctive Features of Suspension Bridge

5. Distinctive Features of Cable-Stayed Bridges

 Distinctive Features of Girder Bridges

•Widely constructed

•Usually used for Short and Medium spans

•Carry load in SHEAR AND FLEXURAL BENDING

•Efficient distribution of material is not possible

•Stability concerns limits the stresses and associated economy

•Economical and long lasting solution for vast majority of bridges

•Decks and girder usually act together to support the entire load in
highway bridges
 Distinctive Features of Arch Bridge

•Arch action reduces bending moments ( that is Tensile Stresses )

•Economical as compared to equivalent straight simply
supported Girder or Truss bridge
•Suitable site is a Valley with arch foundations on a DRY ROCK
SLOPES

•Conventional curved arch rib has high Fabrication and Erection

costs
•Arch is predominantly a COMPRESSION MEMBER. Buckling
must be worked to the detail so as to avoid reductions in allowable
stresses.
 Cont.…

•Classic arch form tends to favor Concrete as a construction

material

•Conventional arch has two moment resistant components :

The deck and the Arch Rib.

•Near the crown of the arch and the region where Spandrel
Columns are short, undesirable B.M. can occur. By using Pin
ended columns it can be avoided
Stone Arch Bridge Movie
 Distinctive Features of Truss Bridge

•The primary member forces are AXIAL LOADS

•The open web system permits the use of a greater overall depth
than for an equivalent solid web girder, hence reduced
deflections and rigid structure

•Both these factors lead to Economy in material and a reduced

dead weight

•These advantages are achieved at the expense of increased

fabrication and maintenance costs
 Cont.…

•It’s a light weight structure it can be assembled member by member

using lifting equipment of small capacity.

•Rarely aesthetically pleasing complexity of member intersections if

viewed from oblique direction

•In large span structures poor aesthetic appearance of the truss bridge is
compensated with the large scale of the structure. For moderate spans
its best to provide a simple and regular structure
 Distinctive Features of Suspension Bridge
•Major element is a FLEXIBLE CABLE, shaped and
supported in such a way that it transfers the loads to
the towers and anchorage
•This cable is commonly constructed from High
Strength wires, either spun in situ or formed from
component, spirally formed wire ropes. In either case
allowable stresses are high of the order of 600 MPA
•The deck is hung from the cable by Hangers
constructed of high strength ropes in tension
•The economy of the cable must be balanced
against the cost of the associated anchorage and
towers. The anchorage cost may be high where
foundation material is poor
 Cont.…
•The main cable is stiffened either by a pair of stiffening trusses or
by a system of girders at deck level.
•This stiffening system serves to (a) control aerodynamic movements
and (b) limit local angle changes in the deck. It may be unnecessary
in cases where the dead load is great.
•The complete structure can be erected without intermediate staging
from the ground
•It is the only alternative for spans over 600m, and it is generally
regarded as competitive for spans down to 300m. However, shorter
spans have also been built, including some very attractive pedestrian
bridges
•The height of the main towers can be a disadvantage in some areas;
for example, within the approach road for an AIRPORT
 Distinctive Features of Cable-stayed Bridge

•The use of high strength cables in tension leads to economy in

material, weight, and cost..
•The cables are anchored to the deck and cause compressive forces in
the deck. For economical design, the deck must participate in carrying
these forces
•All individual cables are shorter than full length of the superstructure.
They are normally constructed of individual wire ropes, supplied
complete with end fittings, prestretched and not spun.
•Less efficient under Dead Load but more efficient in support Live
Load. It is economical over 100-350m, some designer would extend
the upper bound as high as 800m
 Cont.…

•Aerodynamic stability has not been found to be a problem in

structures erected to date

•When the cables are arranged in the single plane, at the longitudinal
center line of the deck, the appearance of the structure is simplified
and avoids cable intersections when the bridge is viewed obliquely
 Discussion on Classification According To
SPAN

Small Span Bridges (up to 15m)

Medium Span Bridges (up to 50m)
Large Span Bridges (50-150m)
Extra Large ( Long ) Span Bridges (over 150m)
 Small Span Bridges (up to 15m)

Culvert Bridge_ common in High way

Slab Bridges_ for span up to 12m
T-Beam Bridge
Wood Beam Bridge
Pre-cast Concrete Box Beam Bridge
Pre-cast Concrete I-Beam Bridge
Rolled Steel Beam Bridge
 Medium Span Bridges (up to 50m)

Pre-cast Concrete Box Beam & Pre-cast Concrete I-Beam

Composite Rolled Steel Beam Bridge
Composite Steel Plate Girder Bridge
Cast-in-place RCC Box Girder Bridge
Cast-in-place Post-Tensioned Concrete Box Girder
Composite Steel Box Girder
BOX GIRDER
 Large Span Bridges (50 to 150m)

Composite Steel Plate Girder Bridge

Cast-in-place Post-Tensioned concrete Box Girder
Post-Tensioned Concrete Segmental Construction
Concrete Arch and Steel Arch
 Extra Large (Long) Span Bridges
(Over 150m)
Cable Stayed Bridge
Suspension Bridge
Discussion on Classification According To
Structural Arrangement

The classification of the bridge types can also be according to

the location of the main structure elements relative to the
surface on which the user travels, as follows:

•Main Structure Below the Deck Line

•Main Structure Above the Deck Line
•Main Structure coincides with the Deck Line
 Main Structure Below the Deck Line
Masonry Arch

Concrete Arch
Arch Bridge
Inclined Leg Frame Arch

Rigid Frame Arch

Steel Truss-Arch
Truss-Arch Bridge
Steel Deck Truss
 Main Structure Above the Deck Line

Suspension Bridges

Cable Stayed Bridges

Through-Truss Bridge
 Main Structure Coincides with the
Deck Line
Slab (solid and voided)

T-Beam (cast-in-place)

I-beam (pre-cast or pre-stressed

Wide-flange beam (composite & non-

Girder Bridge composite

Concrete Box (cast-in-place, segmental

& pre-stressed

Steel Plate Girder (straight & haunched)

Steel box (Orthotropic deck)

Main Structure Coincides with the Deck Line

Slab (solid and voided)

T-Beam (cast-in-place)

I-beam (pre-cast or pre-stressed

Wide-flange beam (composite & non-

Girder Bridge composite

Concrete Box (cast-in-place, segmental

& pre-stressed

Steel Plate Girder (straight & haunched)

Steel box (Orthotropic deck)

FACTORS CONSIDERED IN DECIDING BRIDGE
TYPE

In general all the factors are related to economy, safety

and aesthetics.
1. Geometric Conditions of the Site
2. Subsurface Conditions of the Site
3. Functional Requirements
4. Aesthetics
5. Economics and Ease of Maintenance
6. Construction and Erection Consideration
7. Legal Considerations
 Geometric Conditions of the Site
•The type of bridge selected will always depend on the horizontal
and vertical alignment of the highway route and on the clearances
above and below the roadway
•For Example: if the roadway is on a curve, continuous box girders
and slabs are a good choice because they have a pleasing
appearance, can readily be built on a curve, and have a relatively
high torsion resistance, Example Bure _ Nekemte bridge curved
Box Girder
•Relatively high bridges with larger spans over navigable
waterways will require a different bridge type than one with
medium spans crossing a flood plain, example Baro River in
Gambella.
 Subsurface conditions of the soil
•The foundation soils at a site will determine whether abutments and
piers can be founded on spread footings, driven piles, or drilled shafts
•If the subsurface investigation indicates that creep settlement is going
to be a problem, the bridge type selected must be one that can
accommodate differential settlement over time
•Drainage conditions on the surface and below ground must be
understood because they influence the magnitude of earth pressures,
movement of embankments, and stability of cuts or fills
•For Example: An inclined leg frame bridge requires strong
foundation material that can resist both horizontal and vertical
thrust. If it is not present, then another bridge type is more appropriate.
 Subsurface conditions of the soil
•The potential for seismic activity at a site should also be a part
of the subsurface investigation. If seismicity is high, the
substructure details will change, affecting the superstructure
loads as well
•All of these conditions influence the choice of substructure
components which in turn influence the choice of superstructure
 Functional Requirements
•Bridge must function to carry present and future volumes of traffic.
•Decisions must be made on the number of lanes of traffic,
inclusion of sidewalks and/or bike paths, whether width of the
bridge deck should include medians, drainage of the surface waters,
snow removal, and future wearing surface.
•For Example: In the case of stream and flood plain crossings, the
bridge must continue to function during periods of high water and
not impose a severe constriction or obstruction to the flow of water
or debris.
•Satisfaction of these functional requirements will recommend
some bridge types over others.
•For Example: if future widening and replacement of bridge decks
is a concern, multiple girder bridge types are preferred over
concrete segmental box girders.
 Aesthetics

•It should be the goal of every bridge designer to obtain a

positive aesthetic response to the bridge type selected
•There are no equations, no computer programs or design
specifications that can make our bridge beautiful.
•It is more an awareness of beauty on our part so that we can
sense when we are in the presence of something good.
•Aesthetics must be a part of the bridge design program from
the beginning. It can’t be added on at the end to make the
bridge look nice. At that time it is too late. From the beginning,
the engineer must consider aesthetics in the selection of spans,
depths of girders, piers, abutments, and the relationship.
 Economic and ease of maintenance
•The initial cost and maintenance cost over the life of the bridge
govern when comparing the economics of different bridge types.
•A general rule is that the bridge with the minimum number of
spans, fewest deck joints, and widest spacing of girders will be the
most economical.
•For Example: (1) By reducing the number of spans in a bridge
layout by one span, the construction cost of one pier is eliminated.
(2) Deck joints are a high maintenance cost item, so minimizing their
number will reduce the life cycle cost of the bridge. (3) When using
the empirical design of bridge decks in the AASHTO (1994) LRFD
Specifications, the same reinforcement is used for deck spans up to
4.1m. Therefore, there is little cost increase in the deck for wider
spacing for girders and fewer girders means less cost although at the
“expense” of deeper sections.
 Economic and ease of maintenance

•Generally, concrete structures require less maintenance than steel

structure. The cost and hazard of maintenance painting of steel
structures should be considered in type selection studies.
•One effective way to reduce the overall project cost is to allow
contractors to propose an alternative design or designs.
Construction and Erection Considerations
•The length of the time required to construct a bridge is
important and will vary with the bridge type.
•Generally, larger the prefabricated or pre-cast members shorter
the construction time. However, the larger the members, the
more difficult they are to transport and lift into place.
•The availability of skilled labor and specified materials will
also influence the choice of a particular bridge type.
•For Example: if there are no pre-cast plants for pre-stressed
girders within easy transport but there is a steel fabrication plant
nearby that could make the steel structure more economical.
•The only way to determine which bridge type is more
economical is to bid alternative designs.
 Legal Considerations

•Regulations are beyond the control of an engineer, but they are

real and must be considered.
Examples of certain regulations are as follows:
•Permits Over Navigable Waterways
•National Environmental policy Act
•Department of Transportation Act
•National historic preservation Act
•Clean Air Act
•Noise Control Act
 Cont.…

•Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act

•The Endangered Species Act
•Water Bank Act
•Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
•In addition to the environmental laws and acts defining
national policies, local and regional politics are also of
concern
 Cont..

•Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act

•The Endangered Species Act
•Water Bank Act
•Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
•In addition to the environmental laws and acts defining
national policies, local and regional politics are also of
concern
 Summary Selection of Bridges

• For the selection of a bridge type, there is no a single answer.

For each span length there is more than one bridge which meet
the criteria.
• Because of differences in skill of contractors and local
available material, it good practice to allow contractors to
propose alternative design
• Construction & history of Brooklyn Bridge
• Construction & history of Golden Gate Bridge
GIRDER BRIDGE
 GIRDER BRIDGE

• Baro River
GIRDER BRIDGE
GIRDER BRIDGE
Bridge Cap and Damper
Truss bridge
Truss Bridge
Truss Bridge
Truss Bridge
Truss Bridge
Truss Bridge
ARCH BRIDGE
ARCH BRIDGE
ARCH BRIDGE
ARCH BRIDGE
Suspension Bridge
Suspension Bridge
Suspension Bridge