Bridge

Construction
 Objectives
 Given pictures of bridges, students
will be able to identify the basic
types of bridges.

 Without any aid, students will be

able to describe the 7 steps of the
engineering process with 100%
accuracy.
 Table of Contents
 Types of Bridges
 Engineering Process
 Quiz
 References

Means Link
back to this
page here 
 Types of Bridges
Introduction
- A bridge is a structure that permits you to cross over an
obstacle.
- Suppose you lay a plank across a brook. You have a bridge.
If the plank is thin in relation to its length, it will sag. In
fact, if it is too long, it will collapse. This shows that you
must consider the weight of a bridge itself---the “dead
load”.
- If you stand at the middle of the plank, it sags even more.
So, you must provide for the weight of whatever your
bridge is designed to carry---the “live load”.
- Also, when you walk across the plank, it bounces under you,
illustrating the effect of a “moving live load”.
- Finally, there is a “wind load”. A strong wind pushes
against the sides, lifts the deck, shakes the whole structure.
Certainly the force of the wind is something to keep in
mind.
- Bridges help us to connect to each other and the world.
-
 Types of Bridges
Beam Bridge
- A beam or "girder" bridge is the simplest and
most inexpensive kind of bridge.
- In its most basic form, a beam bridge consists of
a horizontal beam that is supported at each end
by piers. The weight of the beam pushes
straight down on the piers.
- The beam itself must be strong so that it doesn't
bend under its own weight and the added
weight of crossing traffic.
- When a load pushes down on the beam, the
beam's top edge is pushed together
(compression) while the bottom edge is
stretched (tension).
 Types of Bridges
Beam Bridge

Basic Beam Bridge

Actual Beam Bridge
 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.
 Types of Bridges
Arch Bridge

Basic Arch Bridge

Actual Arch Bridge
Bixby Creek Bridge, Monterey, CA
 Types of Bridges
Suspension Bridge
- Aesthetic, light, and strong, suspension bridges
can span distances from 2,000 to 7,000 feet --
far longer than any other kind of bridge.
- They also tend to be the most expensive to
build.
- True to its name, a suspension bridge suspends
the roadway from huge main cables, which
extend from one end of the bridge to the other.
- These cables rest on top of high towers and are
secured at each end by anchorages.
 Types of Bridges
Suspension Bridge
- The towers enable the main cables to be
draped over long distances.
- Most of the weight of the bridge is carried by
the cables to the anchorages, which are
imbedded in either solid rock or massive
concrete blocks.
- Inside the anchorages, the cables are spread
over a large area to evenly distribute the load
and to prevent the cables from breaking free.
 Types of Bridges
Suspension Bridge

Basic Suspension Bridge

Actual Suspension Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
 Types of Bridges
Cable-stayed Bridge
- Cable-stayed bridges may look similar to
suspensions bridges -- both have roadways that
hang from cables and both have towers.
- Two bridges support the load of the roadway in
very different ways.
- The difference lies in how the cables are
connected to the towers. In suspension bridges,
the cables ride freely across the towers,
transmitting the load to the anchorages at either
end.
- In cable-stayeded bridges, the cables are attached
to the towers, which alone bear the load.
 Types of Bridges
Cable-stayed Bridge
- The cables can be attached to the roadway in
a variety of ways.
- In a radial pattern, cables extend from
several points on the road to a single point at
the top of the tower.
- In a parallel pattern, cables are attached at
different heights along the tower, running
parallel to one other.
 Types of Bridges
Cable-stayed Bridge

Basic Cable-stayed Bridge Actual Cable-stayed Bridge

Clark Bridge, Alton, IL
 Types of Bridges
Review
To review for the types of bridges, go to
http://bridgepros.com/

Click on the Learning Center at the top of

the screen. Click on the Build Bridge link.
Complete the Bridge game at the bottom
of this page.
 Engineering Process
Intro

The engineering process is an extension of the

scientific method. Teaching students to use this
process when they begin to build their bridges will
provide them with valuable skills to use when it
comes to solving problems or creating a project. The
engineering process includes basic procedures that
engineers use to identify the problem and determine
an adequate solution to the challenge they have
undertaken. The engineering process can be broken
down into the following eight simple steps.
 Engineering Process
Identify the Problem

Before the engineer can begin work,

the problem or task that is going to
be undertaken must be known.
 Engineering Process
Determine Constraints

Constraints are the limitations that

must be considered before you begin
designing your bridge. Even though
they are not limited to the materials,
size, and money, you have to
consider them the problem or task.
 Engineering Process
Analysis of Design

During this step, the designs are studied

based on their merit in relationship to
strength, cost, market appeal, and
manufacturability. Models, drawings
and calculations can be presented at
this stage. A decision should be made
at this point on which design to use or
rather to begin a new design.
 Engineering Process
Design Refinement

This step begins after a design has been analyzed.

Any problems or unresolved considerations with
the design should have been made apparent by
now. Each design team should attempt to rectify
the problems by making improvements in the
design. After the corrections have been made,
then each team should go back and analyze the
design once again.
 Engineering Process
Implementation Plan

Once the final design has been approved, it must be

translated from an idea on paper to the real thing.
Before the plan can be implemented, plans need to be
made outlining the construction process. The methods
of construction together with the strategy for
scheduling involved a list of the tools; machinery and
materials needed to complete the project. A listing of
the parts and the dimension of the project are drawn
up. The order is which the bridge is to be built is also
written down and the specifications are compiled.
 Engineering Process
Modify the Implementation

Any obstacles that may arise during

the building of the bridge must be
analyzed in order to find out if it is a
big enough problem to cause a
change in the original plan.
 Engineering Process
Implementation

The final step is to manufacture the individual

parts as prescribed in the implementation plans.
Even though the steps are listed in a specific
order, in real life two or more of these steps
maybe combined or done in a different order. In
the field of engineering, sometimes one person
may specialize in a certain step, but the method
is always followed in one respect or the other.
 Engineering Process
Review
The seven steps to the Engineering Process
are:
- Identify the Problem
- Determine Constraints
- Analysis of Design
- Design Refinement
- Implementation Plan
- Modify the Implementation
- Implementation
 Quiz
Question 1:
What are the oldest type of Bridges?
A. Beam
B. Arch
C. Cable-stayed
D. Suspension

Click after you

get right
answer 
 Quiz
Question 2:
Which type of bridge is normally the
longest type?
A. Beam
B. Arch
C. Cable-stayed
D. Suspension
Click after you
get right
answer 
 Quiz
Question 3:
Which type of bridge is the cheapest?
A. Beam
B. Arch
C. Cable-stayed
D. Suspension

Click after you

get right
answer 
 Quiz
Question 4:
What is the fourth step of the
Engineering Process?
A. Design Refinement
B. Implementation
C. Determine Constraints
D. Implementation Plan
Click after you
get right
answer 
 Quiz
Question 5:
During this step, the designs are studied
based on their merit in relationship to
strength, cost, market appeal, and
manufacturability.
A. Identify Problems
B. Modify the Implementation
C. Determine Constraints
D. Analysis of Design
 Correct!

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question!
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Congratulations, you’ve completed
the activity!
 References
 http://bridgepros.com/
 http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculu
m/units/2001/5/01.05.04.x.html#b
 http://www.mediaworkshop.org/ashs
/cole/types.htm