Design of Bridges by : Prof. M.

Manjunath
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Module I: Introduction and Bridge Classification
Reference Books:
Johnson Victor
K.S. Rakshit
Jagadish and Jayaram

Definition: A bridge is a structure providing passage over an obstacle without closing the way beneath.
A bridge is designed for trains, pedestrian or road traffic, or pipeline or waterway for water transport or
barge traffic.
Components of a Bridge
On the basis of design and construction, a bridge can be divided into three parts:

Superstructure – components above the bearing level.

Substructure – components below the bearing level. (parts below the bearing
and above the foundation are often referred as substructure)
Foundation – portion below the bed level of a river bridge.

The main components of a bridge structure are as follows (Refer figure):

 Decking – deck slab, girders, trusses, etc.
 Bearings
 Abutments and piers
 Foundations for abutments and piers
 Return wall and Wing wall
 Dirt wall
 River training works - revetment for slopes and aprons at river bed level
 Approaches to the bridge
 Handrails, parapets and guard stones
Classification of Bridges:
Bridges can be classified in many ways, an important basis of classification is as follows:

- Based on ‘Materials’ used

- On the basis of ‘Usage (Function)’
- Depending on the ‘Span’ of the bridge
- Based on the ‘Structural form’ adopted for the superstructure

The other basis of bridge classification can listed as below:

- According to the position of the bridge floor relative to the superstructure as:
- According to the road level relative to the highest flood level of the river as:
- According to the inter-span relations as:
- According to the length of the bridge as
- According to the degree of redundancy
- According to clearance for navigation

Classification based on material used: On the basis of material used for the superstructure, bridges can
be classified as below:
- Concrete (Reinforced / Prestressed): Reinforced concrete and Prestressed concrete bridges of
different types (Solid slab, T-beam panel, balanced cantilever, arch and bow string girder and
continous bridge) are widely used.
- Steel : Steel bridges in the form of Truss, Steel arch, Box girder etc. are used for medium to long
span bridges.
- Wood : Timber bridges are constructed for small spans.
- Hybrid (Composite): Hybrid bridges is a combination of two materials like steel girders and
concrete deck slab.
- Stone/brick: Stone or brick masonry arch bridges are commonly used.

Classification based Usage (Function): According to the purpose or utility, bridges are classified as:
- Pedestrian: Bridges constructed for pedestrian use over a road or railway line.
- Highway: These are road bridges for movement of vehicles.
- Rail: Bridges designed for railway over any obstruction.
- Aqueduct: Bridges for transport of water over an obstruction.

Classification based Span:

- Short span (upto 5m)
- Small span (10m to 20m)
- Medium span (20m to 50m)
- Large span (50m to 150m)
- Long span (over 150m)
Classification based Structural form: Various structural forms are developed for bridges and the
structural form shall depend on the span, accordingly the classification is as follows:
Small span bridges (upto 15m): Bridges over Nalas, small streams and for cross-drainage, the following
structural forms are adopted based on span, discharge and traffic.
- Culvert Bridge: in the form of Pipe or Box culvert.
- Slab Bridge: Consists of solid deck slab simply supported at the ends over abutments.
- T-Beam Bridge: The deck slab is supported over number of equally spaced T-beams.
- Wood Beam Bridge: The deck slab (Timber or concrete) is supported over timber beams.
- Precast Concrete Box Beam Bridge: The deck slab is supported over box girders at suitable
spacing.
- Precast Concrete I-Girder Bridge: The girder system consists of precast I-girder on which the
deck slab is laid.
- Rolled Steel Beam Bridge: It is a composite or hybrid bridge, with steel beams supporting
concrete deck slab.

Medium span bridges (upto 50m): For spans more than 20 m and upto 50m, the following types of
structural form is adopted:
- Pre-cast Concrete Box Beam bridge
- Pre-cast Concrete I-Girder bridge
- Composite Rolled Steel Beam Bridge
- Composite Steel Plate Girder Bridge
- Cast-in-place RCC Box Girder Bridge
- Cast-in-place Post-Tensioned Concrete Box Girder bridge
- Composite Steel Box Girder bridge

Large span bridges (50m to 150m):

- Composite Steel Plate Girder Bridge
- Cast-in-place Post-Tensioned concrete Box Girder
- Post-Tensioned Concrete Segmental Construction
- Concrete Arch and Steel Arch

Long span bridges (over 150m):

- Cable Stayed Bridge
- Suspension Bridge
The other basis of bridge classification can listed as below:

- According to the position of the bridge floor relative to the superstructure as:
Deck type: The bridge floor (Deck slab) is above the supporting superstructure.
Through type: The bridge floor (Deck slab) is at the bottom level of the supporting
superstructure.
Half-through: The bridge floor (Deck slab) is at the intermediate level of the supporting
superstructure.
- According to the road level relative to the highest flood level of the river as:
High level bridge: The bridge superstructure is placed above the HFL.
Submersible bridge: The bridge superstructure is placed below the HFL and hence gets
submerged during floods.
- According to the inter-span relations as:
Simply supported bridge: the individual spans are simply supported over the intermediate
supports.
Continuous bridge: the superstructure is continuous over the intermediate supports
Cantilever bridge: The intermediate span is simply supported and overhangs over the support
as a cantilever span.
- According to the length of the bridge as: Based on the total length of the bridge.
Culvert (upto 6m)
Minor bridge (6m to 60m)
Major bridge (above 60m)
- According to the degree of redundancy
Determinate
Indeterminate
- According to clearance for navigation
High-level bridge
Movable-bascule
Movable-swing
Movable-lift
Historical Developments in Bridge Construction

 Bridges have been used since the dawn of humankind. Humans have been constructing bridges
since ancient times.
 The earliest bridges were probably nothing more than felled trees used to cross rivers or
ditches.
 As civilization advanced, artisans discovered ways to use stone, rock, mortar, and other naturally
occurring materials in the construction of longer and stronger bridges.
 Stone bridges became popular in the Roman era.
 Varied from simple trees across waterways, to complex stone structures.
 Finally, as physicists and engineers began to develop the principles underlying bridge
construction, they incorporated other materials such as iron, steel, and aluminum into the
bridges they built.
 In the 19th century, mathematics and physics became applied to design.

Site Selection for Bridges

Before a Bridge is constructed, a suitable site is selected based on certain factors which have bearing on
the economy and stability of the bridge.
1. At bridge site the reach of the stream should be straight.
2. To the extent possible, the bridge should be at right angles to the river.
3. The site should be geologically sound i.e. it should be away from fault zone, and should have
unyielding, non erodible foundation for abutments and piers.
4. At the site, the stream should be narrow with well-defined and firm banks.
5. At site the river flow should be steady without whirls and crosscurrents.
6. At the site there should be suitable high banks above high flood level on each side.
7. The approaches should be economical.
8. The site should be at reasonable proximity to a direct alignment of the road to be connected.
9. There should be no sharp curves in the approaches.
10. Absence of costly river training works,
11. Avoidance of excessive under water construction work.
12. If it is un-avoidable, necessity for the approaches of the bridge to cross the spill zone of a river,
they should face down stream and not up stream. Facing up stream will cause heading up,
pocket formation, and danger to the approaches.