Bridge Engineering

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 General Introduction
1.2 Overview of Bridge Types
1.3 Historical Development
1.4 Elements of Bridge Project
1.5 Design Objectives
 1.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION
A bridge is a structure providing passage
over an obstacle
 The obstacle may be a river, a valley, a road
or a railway line
 The passage may be for a highway, railway
traffic, pedestrian, a canal or pipe line
 1.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION…
 Due to high flood and absence of bridges during rainy
season courts, schools and other public activities are
terminated
 Thus, building a bridge will connect people separated
during rainy season
 In this regard, bridges have a unique attribute of
connecting different people
 Bridge engineering is one of the fascinating fields in
civil engineering calling for expertise in many areas:
structural analysis and design, geo-techniques, traffic
projection, surveying, runoff calculation and methods
of construction
COMPONENTS OF A BRIDGE
COMPONENTS OF A BRIDGE
1.2 OVERVIEW OF BRIDGE TYPES

 Slab bridges

 Slab Stringer bridges – Temcha river bridge

1.2 OVERVIEW OF BRIDGE TYPES . . .

Temcha bridge from below

1.2 OVERVIEW OF BRIDGE TYPES. . .
 Arch
bridge: example is Abay bridge on
Goha Tsion – Dejen road
1.2 OVERVIEW OF BRIDGE TYPES . . .
 West Lilac, California, overpass arch
1.2 OVERVIEW OF BRIDGE TYPES . . .
 Truss arch-New River gorge bridge, USA
1.2 OVERVIEW OF BRIDGE TYPES . . .
 Truss bridge: New Orleans through truss bridge
1.2 OVERVIEW OF BRIDGE TYPES. . .
 Cable stayed bridge: Hidassie bridge
 1.2 OVERVIEW OF BRIDGE TYPES. . .
 Suspension bridge: Brooklyn bridge, New York
1.2 OVERVIEW OF BRIDGE TYPES. . .
 Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, Japan
 1.2 OVERVIEW OF BRIDGE TYPES . . .
 Movable bridge
 1.2 OVERVIEW OF BRIDGE TYPES . . .
 Four level directional interchange
 1.2 OVERVIEW OF BRIDGE TYPES . . .
 Interchange in San Diego
 1.3 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
 Nature fashioned the first bridges
 Tree fallen accidentally across a stream is the earliest
beam type bridge
 The natural rock arch formed by erosion of loose soil
below is the earliest form of arch bridges
 Creepers hanging from tree to tree that allow monkeys to
cross were suspension bridges
 The Historical development of bridges is closely
linked with the history of human civilization
 Man imitated nature and started to build bridges
 Based on structural action, there are four
basic types of bridges:
beam, cantilever, suspension and arch bridges
1.4 ELEMENTS OF A BRIDGE PROJECT
 Design of bridges requires collection of
extensive data which is then used in
reviewing possible options and narrowing
down to a short list of bridge types
 Checklist of items to be included in work
plan (typical in planning a bridge project)
include the followings:
1.4 ELEMENTS OF A BRIDGE PROJECT…
 Feasibility Phase – determines if the bridge is
viable or not
 Assembly of design criteria – focus at establishing
design Standards & data collection
 Design phase – performs design per the
established design standard & data collected
 Construction phase – implementation of the
designed works
 Performance phase – operational and maintenances
 1.4 ELEMENTS OF A BRIDGE PROJECT…
o FEASIBILITY PHASE:
 Data collection (Maps & condition survey)

 Topographical surveys

 Hydrological survey & information

 Geological and geotechnical information

 Site investigation requirements for soil and rock

evaluation
 Meteorological and aerodynamic data

 Assembly of basic criteria

 Likely budget
1.4 ELEMENTS OF A BRIDGE PROJECT…
o ASSEMBLY OF DESIGN CRITERIA:
 Data and properties on the material to be used
including steel, concrete, timber, masonry
 Foundation considerations

 Hydraulic considerations, flood, scour

 Loading and design criteria

 Clearance height and width (such as for navigation

or traffic)
 Criteria for gradients, alignment, etc.

 Hazards such as impact, accident…

1.4 ELEMENTS OF A BRIDGE PROJECT…
o ASSEMBLY OF DESIGN CRITERIA:
 proximity to other engineering works
 functional requirements
 transportation and traffic planning
 highway and/or railway engineering
aspects
 drainage requirements
 design life and durability considerations
1.4 ELEMENTS OF A BRIDGE PROJECT…
o DESIGN PHASE:
 Choice of bridge
 Detailed design of bridge including:
• Superstructure
• Substructure
 Production of drawings and
documentation
 Preparation of quality assurance plan
 Estimation of cost and program
1.4 ELEMENTS OF A BRIDGE PROJECT…
o CONSTRUCTION PHASE:
 contractual matters
 construction methods
 budget and financial control
 quality control
 supervision of construction
 commissioning
 operating, inspection and maintenance
schedules for each part of the work.
 1.4 ELEMENTS OF A BRIDGE PROJECT…
o PERFORMANCE PHASE:
 Obligations of owner
 Management of facility
 Inspection, maintenance and repair
 Rehabilitation and refurbishment requirements
(change of loading, widening, change of use
and durability aspects)
 1.5 DESIGN OBJECTIVES
 The objectives in a bridge design are: safety,
serviceability, economy, constructability and
aesthetics
 Safety: is ensured by requirements of structural
induced stresses & strengths of the materials
 Serviceability: consists of satisfying requirements
of deformation, durability, inspect-ability,
maintainability and ride-ability
 1.5 DESIGN OBJECTIVES . . .

 Deformation - excessive deformations that cause

undesirable structural or psychological effects
should be avoided
 Durability - contract documents specify quality of
materials to be used and standards of fabrication
and erection of elements to ensure durability
 Inspect-ability - inspection ladders, walkways,
catwalks and covered access holes will be
provided where other means of inspection are
not practical
 1.5 DESIGN OBJECTIVES . . .
 Maintainability - Structural systems whose
maintenance is expected to be difficult should be
avoided
 Ride-ability - The deck of the bridge will be
designed to permit smooth movement of
traffic. The number of deck joints will be
kept to a practicable minimum
1.5 DESIGN OBJECTIVES . . .
 Economy - Structural types, span lengths and
materials should be selected based on cost.
The cost of future expenditures during the
projected service life of the bridge should also
be considered
 Constructability – Only bridge types that can
be constructed using available methods,
equipment and machineries should be designed
 1.5 DESIGN OBJECTIVES . . .
 Aesthetics – Buildings are designed by Architects and bridges are
designed by Civil Engineers. Bridges serve for 100yrs or more
and therefore should:
 Complement their surroundings
 Be graceful in form and present an appearance of
adequate strength.
 It is worthwhile to make every bridge have an appearance of
quality and careful craftsmanship
 Aesthetic techniques that may be used to improve appearance
are: Proportions, Pleasing Shapes and Compatibility
1.5 DESIGN OBJECTIVES . . .
 Proportions
 All the members should bear a pleasing
relationship to each other
 Columns should not be slender nor
superstructures too heavy
 Span lengths should be chosen carefully
 The bridge should look like it was designed as a
whole, not as a lot of individual parts glued
together
 1.5 DESIGN OBJECTIVES . . .
 Pleasing Shapes
 Avoid stereotyped round or square columns and
flat soffits to improve appearance
 Make all columns or piers of the same size for
aesthetics and reusability of formwork
 Use ledges to break large expanses of concrete
 Slope the sides of box girders back under the
bridge and give the edges a fillet to diminish the
apparent depth
1.5 DESIGN OBJECTIVES . . .
 Compatibility – Bridges should fit their
surroundings, they should look they belong to the
surrounding
 Order of importance:
 horizontal and vertical alignment and position in
the environment
 superstructure type (girder, arch, etc)
 pier placement and pier shape
 abutment placement and height
 superstructure shape and depth
 abutment shape, parapet and railing details,
THANK YOU !