What is a bridge?

• A bridge is a structure that spans a divide such as:

– A stream/river/ravine/valley
– Railroad track/roadway/waterway
• The traffic that uses a bridge
may include:
– Pedestrian or cycle traffic
– Vehicular or rail traffic
– Water/gas pipes
– A combination of all the above
 Function of A Bridge

• A bridge has to carry a service (which may

be highway or railway traffic, a footpath,
public utilities, etc.) over an obstacle
(which may be another road or railway, a
river, a valley, etc.) and to transfer the
loads from the service to the foundations
at ground level.
What is a Bridge?

Bridge is the KEY ELEMENT

in a Transportation System
 Structures for Transportation

Beauty can be
expressed in the
structural efficiency,
simplicity, and
repetition of a bridge.

Millau Viaduct, France

 Bridge Components

Substructure Superstructure
Foundation (Pile/Spread footing) Any structure above bearing
Pier (Column) Wearing surface
Abutment
Bridge Components
 Bridge Planning

 Traffic Studies
 Hydro technical Studies
 Geotechnical Studies
 Environmental Considerations
 Alternatives for Bridge Type
 Economic Feasibility
 Bridge Selection and Detailed Design
 Bridge Span Length

Short span : 6-30m

Medium span: 30-100m
Long span: >100m

Span>6m Bridge
Span<6m Culvert
Types of Bridges

Material Steel Concrete Timber

Hybrid Stone/Brick FRP

Usage Pedestrian Highway Railroad

Span Short Medium Long

Structural Slab Girder Truss Arch

Suspension Cable-Stayed
form
Types of Bridges

Material and Fabrication

Materials Fabrication
Masonry (brick, rock) Precast (RC, PC)
Timber Cast in place (RC, PC)
Reinforced Concrete Pre tensioned (PC)
Prestressed Concrete Post tensioned (PC)
Iron Prefabricated (Steel)
Steel Rivet (steel)
Composites Bolted (steel, timber)
 Highway Bridges

Bristol Bridge,
Bristol, UK
Pedestrian Bridges

London Millennium Footbridge, UK

Electric Wharf Footbridge, UK

Railway Bridges

Thames Ditton Railway bridges

The Forth Railway Bridge, Scotland

Types of Bridges

Basic types based on

structural form:

 Arch
Beam
Cantilever
Truss
Cable Stayed
Suspension
 Types of Bridges
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.
 • The three-hinged arch adds
an additional hinge at the
top and suffers very little
movement in either
foundation, but experiences
more deflection. Rarely used.
Three-hinged Arch
• The tied arch allows
construction even if the
ground is not solid enough to
deal with horizontal forces.

Tied Arch
Forces in an Arch
• Arches are well suited
to the use of stone
because they are
subject to
compression.
• Many ancient and
well-known examples
of stone arches still
stand to this today.
 Types of Bridges
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

Forces
When something pushes down on
the beam, the beam bends. Its top
edge is pushed together, and its
bottom edge is pulled apart.
 Types of Bridges
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
 Types of Bridges
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

Firth of Forth Bridge,

Scotland
521m span
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
 Cable Stayed

• A typical cable-stayed bridge is a continuous deck with one

or more towers erected above piers in the middle of the
span.
• Cables stretch down diagonally from the towers and
support the deck. Typical spans 110m to 480m.
 Cable Stay Towers

Cable stayed bridges may be classified by the number

of spans, number and type of towers, deck type,
number and arrangement of cables.
Cable Stay Arrangements
Cable-stayed Bridge
 All the forces are transferred from
the deck through the cables to the
pylon
 Roadway deck can be :
 (prestressed) Concrete Box Deck
 Steel Box Deck
 Steel Truss Deck
Cable Stayed Bridges
 Suspension Bridge

• A typical suspension bridge is a continuous deck with one or more

towers erected above piers in the middle of span. The deck maybe of
truss or box girder.
• Cables pass over the saddle which allows free sliding.
• At both ends large anchors are placed to hold the ends of the cables.
Forces in Suspension Bridge
 Suspension Bridges
Suspension bridge needs to have very
strong main cables
Cables are anchored at the abutment

London Tower
Bridge (1894),UK
Which Type Should I Use?
Consider the following:
Span length
Bridge length
Beam spacing
Material available
Site conditions (foundation, height, apace constraints)
Speed of construction
Aesthetics
Cost
Access for maintenance
Selection of a Bridge Type by
Span Lengths
Aesthetics : What it means?

An ugly bridge, however safe, serviceable and inexpensive, is not a

good bridge
Long span bridge over a river can be a land mark: thus aesthetics
should be an important factor
Bridge should blend with the environment
Smooth transition between members
Determinant of bridge’s appearance (in order of importance)
•Vertical and Horizontal geometry relative to surrounding topography and
other structures
•Superstructure type and shape
•Pier/abutment placement and shape
•Color, surface texture, Signing, Lighting & landscaping
Aesthetics : What it means?
The Four “C’s” of Bridge
Aesthetics

Context
Comprehensive
Cost
Constructability

Adapted from “Restore Aesthetics as Design Priority” by

Jeffery Grob
 The Four “C’s” of a Aesthetics

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.
The Four “C’s” of Bridge Aesthetics

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.
Qualities of Aesthetic Design

There are not HARD & FAST rules or formulas for aesthetics
of bridge design. It finally gets down to the responsibility of
each designer on each project to make personal choices that
will lead to a more beautiful structure
Function
Proportion
Harmony
Order & Rhythm
Contrast & Texture
 Function

For a bridge design to be successful,

it must always safely perform its
function.
For example, a bridge is designed
that fulfills every requirements of
aesthetic consideration and other
requirements such as economy,
constructability etc. but is somehow
unable to perform the function for
which it was designed, then however
beautiful it is, it won’t be appealing.
The very first notion of beauty in a
bridge is that it performs its function
efficiently and people using it are
satisfied.
 Proportion

Good proportions are fundamental to achieving an aesthetically pleasing

bridge structure
It is generally agreed that when a bridge is placed across a relatively
shallow valley, the most pleasing appearance occurs when there are an
odd number of spans with span lengths that decrease going up to the side
of the valley.
The bridge over a deep valley again should have an odd number of
spans, but should be of equal length. Slender girders and the tall, tapered
piers can add to the aesthetic pleasure

The proportions of parapet,

spandrel, arch etc. are very
important on such bridges.

Runnymede Bridge, River Thames (1962)

 Proportion
Slender girders can be achieved if the superstructure is made
continuous. In fact, the superstructure continuity is the most important
aesthetic consideration
Byker Viaduct, Tall,
slender divided piers,
straight haunches and a
shallow deck.

Athlone Bypass Bridge, Ireland

A shallow deck, straight haunches
extended into piers and broad ,shallow
cutwaters combine to give a strong and
distinctive effect.
 Harmony

Harmony between the elements of a bridge:

It depends on the proportions between the span lengths and depth of
girders, height and size of piers, and negative spaces and solid masses.
Harmony between the whole structure and its surroundings
The scale and size of a bridge structure should be relative to its
environment.
A9 Dornoch
Firth Bridge,
Scotland.
Constant depth
box on simple
supports, a low
key solution
suiting a
shallow
estuarial River Camel Viaduct, Wadebridge,
crossing. Cornwall: Simple constant depth girder
viaduct with clean and neat lines.
 Order and Rhythm

Developing a rhythm to the bridge is also important. For example,

spans should match where possible or at least demonstrate a consistent
order.
The cumulative effect of all bridge elements including lighting columns,
barrier support and pier should be considered.

For example, outer spans of this

bridge are not the same dimension
and the symmetry of the bridge is
affected.
Contrast, Texture & Finishes

All bridges do not have to blend in with their surroundings. “ when a

bridge is built in the middle of the country, it should blend in with the
country side, but very often, because of its proportions and dynamism,
the bridge stands out and dominates the landscape”
For Example: When the deck line is not
expressed, the scale looks odd due to
paucity of detail. Also the coursing of the
stone or brick then follow neither the arch,
the deck nor the parapet, so invariably it
tends to be horizontal.

G-Mex bridge, Manchester

Metrolink.
The steel structure contrasts
boldly with its surroundings.

Avon Bridge, M40,Warwick

A lack of much detailing gives ‘wallpaper’ effect
Engineering Process

Establish requirements

Understand context
Design Refinement

Setting design objectives

and principles
Implementation Plan

Develop design

Analysis of design
 Bridge Design Process

•Function (To bridge or not? Replace or remove?)

Project Scope •Who is User?

Location/Survey •Many decisions.

•Where is best spot?
•Project Funding and
Scope finalized.

Preliminary Design

•Plans, Specs, Final Design

Estimates.
Construction