COURSE PLAN: CE 6515

Course Code CE 6515

Course Name Bridge Engineering
Course Credits 2
Course Status Optional
Prerequisite
Aim To improve the professional exposure towards Bridge Engineering aspects.
At the end of this course, students should be able to;
LO1. explain different structural configurations of bridges and select suitable
bridge type for a given project by reviewing techno economic feasibilities of
different alternatives.
Leaning
LO2. analyse the bridge decks for code defined traffic and other loadings.
Outcomes
LO3. design substructure elements, superstructure elements bearings and
expansion joints.
LO4. evaluate the performance of existing bridges through monitoring practices
and suggest appropriate maintenance, repair and rehabilitation schemes.

Assessment/
Week Topics LO Delivery
Evaluation
Introduction to Bridge Engineering
Design considerations Economical
1 consideration; site selection; aesthetics;
LO1 Lecture Exam
geotechnical investigations; hydrological
and hydraulic considerations; safety
considerations
Design considerations Economical
consideration; site selection; aesthetics;
2 geotechnical investigations; hydrological LO1 Lecture Exam
and hydraulic considerations; safety
considerations
Alternative structural configurations and
3 LO1 Lecture Exam
systems
Use of different materials,
4 Constructability, Modern concepts, LO1 Lecture Exam
Construction methods
Assignment
5 FEM applications LO2 Lecture
/Exam
Bridge deck loading and Guidelines, Codes
6 Assignment
of Practices in highway and railway bridge LO2 Lecture
/Exam
design including Sri Lankan practices
Bridge deck loading and Guidelines, Codes
7 of Practices in highway and railway bridge LO2 Lecture Exam
design including Sri Lankan practices
Assignment
8 Bridge deck analysis LO2 Lecture
/Exam
Assignment
9 Bridge deck analysis LO2 Lecture
/Exam

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 Design of superstructure: Reinforced
concrete bridges; Pre-stressed concrete Assignment
10 LO3 Lecture
bridges: Steel bridges; Steel-concrete /Exam
composite bridges
Design of superstructure: Reinforced
11 concrete bridges; Pre-stressed concrete LO3 Assignment
Lecture
bridges: Steel bridges; Steel-concrete /Exam
composite bridges
12 Design of substructure: Abutments; piers; Assignment
LO3 Lecture
piles and other foundations /Exam
Design of bearings and joints Design of
13
Elastomeric bearing, Bridge expansion LO3 Lecture Exam
joints
Dynamic Analysis of Bridges Structural
14 dynamics for bridges, seismic effects, wind LO2 Lecture Exam
effects
Maintenance of bridges: Scheme of
15
inspection; identification of defects and Lecture Exam
LO4
repair methods
16 Dead week
17 Examination week
Hours per semester
Teaching – Lectures 30
Learning Assignment Take Home Assignment
approach
Total 30
Percentage
Assignment/Coursework 40
Assessment
End of Semester Examination 60
Total 100
1. RDA Bridge Design Manual
2. Essentials of Bridge Engineering, 4th Ed, D.J. Victor, Oxford & IBH Publishing,
1973
Resources 3. Bridge Engineering, S. Ponnuswamy, Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing, 1986
4. Bridge & Structure Estimating, J.D.Nardon, McGraw-Hill Publishing, 1995
5. Eurocode specifications: EN 1990 – EN 1994, EN 1997

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