2

BRIDGE ENGINEERING
Civil Engineering
Department
NUST Balochistan
Campus, Quetta,

INSTRUCTOR:
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
ABDUL WAHEED

SUBMITTED BY:
AHSAN UL HAQ
CMS ID = 314490

DATE=JULY,22,2023
2

GIRDERS IN BRIDGE STRUCTURE

Girders in bridges refer to the main horizontal support beams that span across the bridge's length
and provide crucial structural stability. They are commonly used in bridge construction due to
their ability to distribute the load of the bridge deck and any traffic or other forces acting on it.
They are used due to their load-bearing capacity, spanning long distances, structure integrity,
flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. Girders are mostly used in Beam, Arch, Box, and Truss
Bridges.

Components of Girder
A general typical section of a girder consists of the following main components:
Flanges: Flanges are the top and bottom horizontal elements of the girder, providing resistance
to bending stresses. Web: The web is the vertical element that connects the top and bottom
flanges of the girder. It provides shear resistance and helps to maintain the overall stability of the
girder. Cross-section shape: The cross-section shape of the girder can vary based on the bridge's
design requirements and the materials used. Common shapes include I-beams (I-shaped cross-
sections), box girders (rectangular or box-like cross-sections), and trapezoidal girders, among
others.

Types of Girders
 A rolled steel girder is a girder that has been
fabricated by rolling a blank cylinder of steel through a
series of dies to create the desired shape. These create
standardized I-beam and wide flange beam shapes up
to 100 feet in length.
 A plate girder is a girder that has been fabricated by
welding plates together to create the desired shape. The
2

fabricator receives large plates of steel in the desired thickness, then cuts the flanges and
web from the plate in the desired length and shape. Plate girders can have a greater height
than rolled steel girders and are not limited to standardized shapes. The ability to
customize a girder to the exact load conditions allows the bridge design to be more
efficient. Plate girder can be used for spans between 10 meters and more than 100 meters
(33 feet to more than 330 feet). Stiffeners are occasionally welded between the
compression flange and the web to increase the strength of the girder.
 A box girder or "tub girder" is, as the name suggests, a
box shape. They consist of two vertical webs, short top
flanges on top of each web, and a wide bottom flange
connecting the webs together. A box girder is
particularly resistant to Torsion and, while expensive, is
utilized in situations where a standard girder might
succumb to torsion or toppling effects.

Typical Section Girders

The typical cross-sections used in girders are as under:

 Box Girder:
The Box Girder is a type of girder with a rectangular or
box-like cross-section. It consists of a top and bottom
flange, connected by vertical webs on all four sides,
forming a closed hollow box. Box girders are
commonly used in bridges where a high moment of
inertia and bending resistance are required. The
enclosed design offers significant torsional stiffness and
better structural efficiency compared to some other girder shapes.
Advantages: Box girders are often used for longer-span bridges and in cases where the
bridge needs to carry heavy loads or support wide decks. The interior space of the box
girder can also provide additional room for utilities or services to pass through, making
them suitable for cable-stayed bridges and certain modern bridge designs.
Disadvantages: Box Girders are more complicated and time-consuming to construct. The
cost of the construction is also too high. The weight is more and requires more
maintenance.
2

 I-shaped Girder:
I-shaped girders, also known as I-beams, are one of the
most common and widely used girder shapes. They
have a cross-sectional shape resembling the letter "I,"
with a vertical web connecting the top and bottom
flanges. The I-shaped girder is efficient in carrying both
vertical and horizontal loads due to its high moment of
inertia.
Advantages: These girders are often made of steel or reinforced concrete and are
commonly used in various bridge types, including beam bridges and steel truss bridges.
They are suitable for medium to long spans and offer good strength-to-weight ratios,
making them a cost-effective solution for many bridge designs.
Disadvantages: These types of girders are prone to torsional buckling and also have
limited load-bearing capacity. They have greater weight and are expensive.
 Trapezoidal Girder:
Trapezoidal girders have a cross-sectional shape similar
to a trapezoid, with the top flange being wider than the
bottom flange. The trapezoidal shape allows for
increased width at the top, providing better lateral
stability and resisting the effects of torsional forces. The
larger top flange also allows for a wider deck, which
can be beneficial for accommodating pedestrian walkways or multiple lanes of traffic.
Advantages: Trapezoidal girders are often used in bridges with shorter to medium spans.
They offer a good balance between structural efficiency, load-carrying capacity, and cost-
effectiveness. These girders are commonly used in various bridge types, including
pedestrian bridges, highway bridges, and some railway bridges.
Disadvantages: A disadvantage of a trapezoidal girder is that it may be more complex
and costly to fabricate and install compared to a standard rectangular girder.
 T-shaped Girder:
T-shaped girders have a cross-sectional shape
resembling the letter "T." They consist of a vertical web
(similar to an I-shaped girder) with a wide flange at the
top. The wide flange provides increased lateral stability
and resistance to torsional forces, making them suitable
for bridges that experience significant lateral loads or
wind effects. T-shaped girders are commonly used in
2

bridges where increased width at the top is beneficial, such as for accommodating
multiple lanes of traffic or pedestrian walkways.
Advantages: They are efficient have high strength, have flexibility is there, have good
load transfer mechanism, and ease in construction.
Disadvantages: The shear capacity is reduced, have limited depth, and have a wider
flange with complex design.

 Inverted T-shaped Girder:

The Inverted T-shaped girder is the opposite of the T-
shaped girder. It has a vertical web with a wide flange at
the bottom. This design is used when there is a need to
provide additional clearance under the girder. Inverted T-
shaped girders are often used in bridges over waterways
or roads where extra vertical space is required to allow
boats, vehicles, or other structures to pass underneath.
Advantages: They are efficient have high strength, have flexibility is there, have good
load transfer mechanism, and ease in construction.
Disadvantages: The shear capacity is reduced, have limited depth, and have a wider
flange with complex design.

 L-shaped Girder:
L-shaped girders have a cross-sectional shape resembling the letter "L." They consist of a
vertical web with two perpendicular flanges at the top and one side. L-shaped girders are
typically used when the bridge requires a ledge or a structural element along one side.
This design can be found in bridges where the girder serves multiple purposes, such as
supporting the bridge deck and providing a walkway or handrail on one side.
Advantages: This girder will increase structural efficiency, enhances stability, and have
better load distribution.
Disadvantages: Limited versatility, complex analysis, increased transportation.
2

 U-shaped Girder:
U-shaped girders have a cross-sectional shape
resembling the letter "U" or a trough-like structure.
They consist of two parallel vertical webs with a
horizontal top flange connecting them. U-shaped
girders are commonly used in bridges that require
increased depth and capacity for carrying heavy loads.
These girders are often used in railway bridges and
other structures where the design necessitates a large
cross-sectional area.
Advantages: Increases load bearing, Enhance stiffness, and aesthetic appeal.
Disadvantages: The shear capacity is reduced, have limited depth, and have a wider
flange with complex design.

 Multi-cell Box Girder:

Multi-cell box girders are similar to regular box girders but have multiple enclosed
chambers within the cross-section. These individual cells provide additional buoyancy in
bridges constructed over water bodies or in marine environments. They are often used in
long-span bridges and cable-stayed bridges to reduce weight and increase the stability of
the overall structure.
Advantages: They are efficient have high strength, have flexibility is there, have good
load transfer mechanism, and ease in construction.
Disadvantages: construction complexity, increased material cost, and maintenance
challenges.
2

Load transfer mechanism

Girders are structural elements used in construction to support heavy loads, such as the weight of
a building, bridge, or any other type of infrastructure. The primary function of girders is to
transfer the applied loads to the supporting columns or walls, ensuring the stability and integrity
of the structure. The load transfer mechanism of girders can be described as follows:
 Load Application: The loads on a structure can come from various sources, such as dead
loads (permanent, fixed loads like the weight of the structure itself), live loads (temporary
loads like people, furniture, vehicles), wind loads, seismic loads, etc. These loads are
calculated and applied to the structure's design, considering factors like safety and
functionality.
 Load Distribution: Girders are often positioned horizontally, either as single beams or as
part of a larger framework. When loads are applied to the structure, the girders receive
these loads at specific points. The girders' cross-sectional shape and material properties
determine their load-carrying capacity.
 Flexural Load Transfer: The primary load transfer mechanism in girders is through
flexural action. When a load is applied to a girder, it induces bending moments and shear
forces. The top part of the girder experiences compression, while the bottom part
experiences tension. This leads to the formation of bending stresses along the length of
the girder.
 Load Redistribution: In some cases, multiple girders are used in parallel to distribute
the applied loads more effectively. These girders may be evenly spaced or placed
strategically based on the load distribution requirements of the structure.
 End Support Conditions: Girders are typically supported at their ends by columns or
walls. The type of support condition (e.g., simply supported, fixed, or continuous) at each
end affects how the load is transferred to the supports and how bending moments are
distributed along the girder's length.
 Shear Load Transfer: In addition to the bending moments, girders also experience shear
forces due to the applied loads. These shear forces are transferred through the girder's
web (the vertical section between the top and bottom flanges) to the supports.
 Load Transfer to Columns or Walls: Ultimately, the loads carried by the girders are
transferred to the supporting columns or walls. These vertical elements, being more
robust and stable, can handle the concentrated loads from the girders and transfer them
further to the foundation or the ground.
The load transfer mechanism of girders is crucial for ensuring the structural integrity and safety
of buildings and other infrastructure. Proper design, material selection, and construction
techniques are essential to ensure that girders can effectively bear and distribute the applied loads
to the supporting elements.
2