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Introduction To Bridge Engineering

A bridge is a structure that allows passage over an obstacle without closing the way beneath. There are several basic types of bridges including arch, beam/girder, cantilever, truss, suspension, and movable bridges. Key components of bridges include the substructure (piers and abutments), superstructure (deck and girders), and bearings which transmit loads between the substructure and superstructure. Aesthetics in bridge design consider the context, comprehensive design, cost, and constructability of a bridge.

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133 views

Introduction To Bridge Engineering

A bridge is a structure that allows passage over an obstacle without closing the way beneath. There are several basic types of bridges including arch, beam/girder, cantilever, truss, suspension, and movable bridges. Key components of bridges include the substructure (piers and abutments), superstructure (deck and girders), and bearings which transmit loads between the substructure and superstructure. Aesthetics in bridge design consider the context, comprehensive design, cost, and constructability of a bridge.

Uploaded by

Amasha Weerasinghe
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Bridge Engineering

What is a Bridge?

 A bridge is a structure providing passage over an obstacle


without closing the way beneath. The required passage may
be for a road, a railway, pedestrians, a canal or a pipeline. The
obstacle to be crossed may be a river, a road, railway or a
valley.

 In other words, bridge is a structure for carrying the road traffic


or other moving loads over a depression or obstruction such
as channel, road or railway.

 A bridge is an arrangement made to cross an obstacle in the


form of a low ground or a stream or a river without closing the
way beneath.
Basic types based on structural form
Arch Bridge
 Arch bridges are one of the oldest types of bridges and have
great natural strength.
 Instead of pushing straight down, the weight of an arch bridge
is carried outward along the curve of the arch to the supports
at each end.
 These supports, called the abutments, carry the load and
keep the ends of the bridge from spreading out.
ARCH BRIDGE
Beam/Girder Bridge
 The most basic type of bridge.
 Typically consists of a beam simply supported on each side by a
support and can be made continuous later.
 Typically inexpensive to build.
Beam/Girder Bridge
 Currently, most of the beam bridges are
precast (in case of RC and PC) or
prefabricated
 Most are simply-supported
 Some are made continuous on site

Simply supported

Cantilever

Continuous
Beam/Girder Bridge
 Currently, most of the beam bridges are
precast (in case of RC and PC) or
prefabricated
 Most are simply-supported
 Some are made continuous on site

Simply supported

Cantilever

Continuous
Beam/Girder Bridge
Cantilever Bridge
 In a cantilever bridge, the
roadway is constructed out
from the pier in two
directions at the same time
so that the weight on both
sides counterbalance each
other
 Notice the larger section at
the support to resist the
negative moments
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.
 Typical Span lengths: 40m-500m
Suspension Bridges

 Suspension bridge needs to


have very strong main cables
 Cables are anchored at the
abutment
Suspension Bridge
Cable-stayed Bridge
 All the forces are transferred from the deck through the cables to the
pylon
 Roadway deck can be :
1. (Prestressed) Concrete Box Deck
2. Steel Box Deck
3. Steel Truss Deck
Moveable Bridges

Bascule Lift

A moveable bridge is a bridge that


moves to allow passage (usually) for
boats or barges.

Swing
Aesthetics : What it means?

Aesthetic qualities result from the appropriate


arrangement of visual design elements and are
used to evaluate a visual composition. These design
qualities are intangible; they are perceived qualities
that arise from relationships of design elements.

The Four “C’s” of Bridge Aesthetics


 Context
 Comprehensive
 Cost
 Constructability
Aesthetics : What it means?
 Context
All projects from a simple creek bridge to the longest multi span water
crossing must first be considered with a view to the context in which it is
located.

 Comprehensive
The designs that work best are those that take aesthetics in to account
right from start.

 Cost
No discussion of design considerations can be conducted realistically
without asking “How much is it going to cost?”.

 Constructability
No discussion of aesthetics is complete without considering
constructability.
Bridge Terminology: Slab on Girder Bridge

Substructure - includes the


piers, the abutments and the
foundations.

Superstructure - comprises
all the components of a bridge
above the supports.
Bridge Terminology: Slab on Girder Bridge
Bridge terminology: Slab on Girder Bridge
Bridge terminology: Slab on Girder Bridge
Bridge terminology: Slab on Girder Bridge

• Primary Members. distribute loads longitudinally and are usually designed


principally to resist flexure and shear.

• Secondary Members: are bracing between primary members designed to resist


cross-sectional deformation of the superstructure frame and help distribute part of
the vertical load between stringers. They are also used for the stability of the
structure during construction.
Bridge terminology: Slab on Girder Bridge

• Wearing Surface. The wearing surface (course) is that portion of the


deck cross section which resists traffic wear. In some instances this is a
separate layer made of bituminous material, while in some other cases it
is a integral part of concrete deck.

• Deck. The deck is the physical extension of the roadway across the
obstruction to be bridged. The main function of the deck is to distribute
loads transversely along the bridge cross section.

• Stringers: Beam type primary members are also called stringers or


girders. These stringers could be steel wide flange stringers, steel plate
girders (i.e., steel plates welded together to form an I section),
prestressed concrete, glued laminated timber, or some other type of
beam.
Bridge terminology: Slab on Girder Bridge

• Abutments are earth-retaining


structures which support the
superstructure at the beginning and
end of a bridge.

 The abutments establish the


connection between the bridge
superstructure and the
embankments.

 They are designed to support the


loads due to the superstructure
which are transmitted through the
bearings and to the pressures of the
soil contained by the abutment.

• A wing wall is a side wall to the


abutment back wall or stem
designed to assist in confining earth
behind the abutment.
Bridge terminology: Slab on Girder Bridge

• Piers are structures which support the


superstructure at intermediate points between the
end supports (abutments). Like abutments, piers
come in a variety of forms. From an aesthetic
standpoint, piers are one of the most visible
components of a bridge and can make the
difference between a visually pleasing structure
and an unattractive one.
Bridge terminology: Slab on Girder Bridge

• Bearing is a structural device positioned


between bridge superstructure and
substructure which transmit the vertical and
horizontal loads of the superstructure to the
substructure, and accommodate movements
between the superstructure and the
substructure
• Role of Bearing
 To transmit load from superstructure to
substructure
 Accommodate relative movement between
superstructure and substructure
• Types
 Fixed Bearing
Rotational movement only
 Expansion Bearing
Rotational movement
Translational movement
Rocker/ Pin/ Roller Bearing

Mostly used for steel beams


Can carry large loads
Requires high clearance
Corrosion can be a Problem
Need regular inspections
High maintenance cost
Elastomeric Bearing

 Made up of natural or synthetic rubber.


 Very flexible in shear but very stiff against volumetric change.
 Steel or fiberglass is typically used to reinforced the pad in alternate layers to
prevent it from “bulging” under high load allowing it to resist higher loads.
 Can accommodate both rotational and translational movements through the
deformation of pad.
Elastomeric Bridge Bearings

Flange
Rubber
Inner steel plate
Protective rubber
Outer steel plate

Elastomeric Bearing

Flange
Rubber
Inner steel plate
Protective rubber
Outer steel plate

Central lead core

Lead Rubber Bearing

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