HOW BRIDGES WORK. THE BASICS Dimensions? Dimensions? Purpose? Purpose? Type? Type? Design? Design?...

HOW HOW BRIDGES BRIDGES

WORKWORK

THE BASICSTHE BASICS

Dimensions?Dimensions? Purpose?Purpose? Type?Type? Design?Design? $$$$$$?$$$$$$?

Civil EngineerCivil Engineer

BridgesBridges CanalsCanals RoadsRoads

Civil EngineerCivil Engineer Water/Wastewater systems (sewers)Water/Wastewater systems (sewers) FoundationsFoundations Tunnels`Tunnels` AirportsAirports

BEAM BRIDGEBEAM BRIDGE

A horizontal A horizontal structure resting on structure resting on piers. piers.

Weight supported Weight supported by piers.by piers.

Constructed using Constructed using concrete/steel.concrete/steel.

TYPES OF BEAM BRIDGESTYPES OF BEAM BRIDGES

TRUSS – a structure consisting of 1 or more triangular units whose ends are connected.

TRUSS FORCESTRUSS FORCES

• Truss members experience BOTH tension and compression

• Top and bottom members experience MORE force than the center members

•Truss is rigid and can dissipate the weight throughout the structure.

ARCH BRIDGEARCH BRIDGE Semi-circular structure Semi-circular structure

with abutments on each with abutments on each end.end.

ALWAYS UNDER ALWAYS UNDER COMPRESSIONCOMPRESSION

The shape of the structure The shape of the structure dissipates the weight.dissipates the weight.

Pont du Gard – Vers Pont du Gardc. 19BC-60AD

SUSPENSION BRIDGESUSPENSION BRIDGE Cables are strung across Cables are strung across

multiple towers and the deck multiple towers and the deck is suspended from these is suspended from these cables. Cables are held in cables. Cables are held in place by anchor blocksplace by anchor blocks

Cables are under tension, Cables are under tension, towers are under compressiontowers are under compression

NAME THE BRIDGENAME THE BRIDGE

Newport Bridge – Newport, RIJune 28, 1969

NAME THE BRIDGENAME THE BRIDGE

Tower Bridge – London, England1894

NAME THE BRIDGENAME THE BRIDGE

Sydney Harbor Bridge – Sydney, Australia1932

NAME THE BRIDGENAME THE BRIDGE

Magdeburg Water Bridge – Elbe River, GermanyOctober, 2003

NAME THE BRIDGENAME THE BRIDGE

The Millennium Bridge – London, EnglandJune 2000

Balsa Wood BridgeBalsa Wood BridgeJeff Cathcart???