DEFINITION

• A Bridge is a structure that allows peoples (or) vehicles

to cross an obstacle such as river (or) canal (or) railway
etc….
COMPONENTS OF A BRIDGE

Bridge (Components)

Substructure Superstructure
1. Foundation 1. Bearing
2. Abutment 2. Decking
3. Pier 3. Girder or Truss
4. Wing walls & 4. Handrails
Return walls 5. Roadway etc
5. Revetment
6. Apron
7. Approaches to bridge
FOUNDATION
 Lower Part of a Structure
 Provides a base for the superstructure
 To transmit the load on structure (Live & Dead Load) to the
soil

ABUTMENT
 End support of a bridge superstructure

PIER
 Intermediate support of a bridge superstructure
WINGWALLS
 Masonry Wall Constructed on both ends of the abutment
 To retain the embankment of roadway approaches

APRON
 Layer of concrete / masonry stone laid like flooring at the
entrance / outlet of a bridge.
 To prevent Scouring.
REVETMEN
 Masonry stones laid on both upstream and downstream slides of
the water way.
 To protect erosion.
SUPER STRUCTURE
 Part of the bridge above girder bearing.

BEARING
 To distribute the load coming from the super structure to the sub
structure.

DECKING
 To comprising the flooring and the supporting beams / girders.

HANDRAILS
 Productive work provided on both sides of the deck.
 To safeguard the moving vehicles and the passengers on the
bridge.
BEARING

DECKING
GIRDER / TRUSS
 Employed for small bridges.
 Girder as the means of supporting the deck.
 Where span is less and loads are heavy causing impact and
vibrations.

ROADWAY
 Road pavement / railway track / any other flooring laid for the
movement of vehicles or pedestrians.
CLASSIFICATION OF I.R.C LOADING
 Classification based on their load carrying capacity

 I.R.C. class AA Loading

 I.R.C. class A Loading
I.R.C. class B Loading
I.R.C. class 70R Loading
I.R.C. CLASS AA LOADING
 Based on heavy military vehicles.
 Adopted for bridge within municipal limits (Industrial areas,
National & State highway)
 Tracked Vehicle - Load of 70t
 Wheeled Vehicle - Single Axle - 20t & Double Axle - 40t

I.R.C. CLASS A LOADING

 Based on heavier type of commercial vehicles
 Bridge design which are not covered by class AA loading , are
to be designed for class A loading.
 Adopted for Permanent Structure.
I.R.C. CLASS B LOADING
 Same as Class A loading except that 40 % less than class A
loading.
 Methods of application & other details are same as class A
loading.
 Adopted for Temporary Structure.

I.R.C. CLASS 70R LOADING

 R indicates revised classification of class AA loading.
 It consists Traced Vehicle – same as class AA loading
 And Wheeled Vehicle – Seven axles – 100t
SCOUR

• Removal
  of the bed soil due to high velocity of the stream.
 It occur when the bed velocity of stream is higher than that of
limiting velocity

SCOUR DEPTH
 Lacey’s formula is adopted for determining the scour depth
when the river has stable conditions.
D = 0.473R
D = Normal depth of scour
Q = Designed discharge in per second
F = Laceys silt factor = 1.76
D = Particle size in mm
R = Constant varying from 1.27 to 2.75
AFFLUX

• The rise in water level or difference in water levels of the

water surfaces between upstream and downstream sides of the
bridge is called afflux.
SPAN

Total Span - The centre to centre distance b/w the end

supports is total span.

Span - The centre to centre distance b/w the adjacent supports

is total span.

Economic Span – The span for which the cost of sub structure
and super structure are equal is called economic span.
WATERWAY
 The sectional area through which the water flows under a
bridge is called as waterway.
ALIGNMENT OF BRIDGES

• Should be an economical one.

• It should be at right angle to the centre line of the river.
• The alignment should not be curved.
• The construction and maintenance of curved bridge is difficult
one.
 FOUNDATION

 Lowest Part of a structure

 Which provide base for the superstructure.
 ORDINARY FOUNDATION ON DRY LAND
 Spread Foundation
 Raft Foundation
 Grillage Foundation
 Pile Foundation

FOUNDATION IN SATURATED SOIL

 Buoyant Raft
 Inverted Arch
 Pile Foundation

FOUNDATION UNDER WATER

 Well Foundation
 Caisson Foundation
a. Open Caisson foundation
b. Box Caisson foundation
c. Pneumatic Caisson foundation
 GRILLAGE FOUNDATION
 Grillage foundation is quite advantageous in use where heavy loads
are transmitted to soils of low bearing capacity.
 PILE FOUNDATION

 If the soil at the site is very soft and good soil is available at a
greater depth, pile foundation is provided.
 These are economical.
 WELL FOUNDATION
 These are used in soft soil / sandy bed, where scouring is to occur.
 Good soil is available at nearly 3m below the bed level.
 To distribute excessive load of the bridge.
 CAISSON FOUNDATION
 Caisson – French word – Box.
 When the depth of water in the river is more and good soil is
available near the river bed, caisson foundations are provided.
 It can be round / rectangular in plan.
FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION OF
FOUNDATION TYPES

• Nature of the subsoil in the river bed.

• Types of bridge.

• Velocity of water
• Depth of Scour
• Depth of water at the site

• Availability of skilled workers and raw materials for the

construction.
• Availability of various equipments during construction.
 Control of ground water in foundation
• During the excavation of foundation, the bailing out of ground water
may posses a serious problems.
• Continuously pumping out of water is a costly one.
• Unchecked ,heavy inflow is liable to cause erosion / collapse of the
sides of the open excavation.
FACTORS INVOLVED IN GROUND WATER CONTROL
• Site investigation before commencement of the work.
• The overall cost should be kept to the minimum.
• Quantity of water to be pumped should not more than the capacity
of pump.
 METHODS OF GROUND WATER CONTROL

• For elimination or reduction of ground water

• Pumping
• Electro – osmosis
• Cement Grouting

• Chemical consolidation
• Using compressed air
• Freezing
 COFFERDAMS
• Temporary Structure constructed to exclude earth and water from
work spot, where the foundation is to be laid.

TYPES OF COFFERDAMS
 Cantilever Sheet piles – suitable for small cofferdams – sheet pilling wall
 Braced Cofferdam – Temporary enclosure – Economical – vertical &
horizontal sheeting.
 Double wall cofferdam – suitable for moderate height – Two rows of sheet
piles
 Cellular cofferdam - suitable for large height – Steel cells and cell fill and
earth beams.
 Earth embankment – made up of sand , clay or sand gravel mixture – top
width 1000mm
 Rock fill cofferdam – Embankment made up of boulders – 300 to 600mm tk
 Bagged earth cofferdam – Bag of loosely filled earth
CELLULAR COFFERDAM
 according to position of a bridge

• Deck Bridge
• Semi- through Bridge
• Through Bridge

ACCORDING TO TYPES OF SERVICES

• Permanent Bridge
• Temporary Bridge
• Military Bridge
 culverts
• A culvert is a structure that allows water to flow under
a road, railroad.
• A culvert may be made from a pipe, reinforced
concrete or other material.
 Classification of culverts
• According to function / purpose
• According to Construction

ACCORDING TO FUNCTION / PURPOSE

• Highway Culverts
• Railway Culverts

ACCORDING TO CONSTRUCTION
• Pipe Culverts
• Box Culverts
• Arch Culverts
• R.C.Stone Slab Culverts
• Steel Girder Culvert for railway
Hume Pipe Stoneware Pipe
 BOX CULVERT
• It consists of one or more square or rectangular
openings.
• Made of masonry or reinforced concrete
• In soft soil where there is a possibility of scouring and
bearing capacity of soil is poor, these culverts are
used.
 arch culvert
• It is constructed economically for short spans
of 2 to 3m.
• It may be constructed in stone / brick masonry.
• Consists of foundation, abutments, wingwalls,
arch and the parapet
 r.c. slab culverts
• It consists of stone slabs / R.C. slabs, suitably
supported on masonry walls on either side.
• Stone slab suitable up to span of 2500mm
• R.C slab suitable up to span of 6000mm
 Steel girder culvert
• These type of culverts are provided in
railways.
• Two main girders are laid just below the
rails.
• Wooden sleepers are provided between the
girders and rails.
• Also called as Open Deck Culverts.
 Cause ways
• A raised path or road, as across wet ground or water is
called as causeway. 
Conditions to be satisfied to justify the construction
of causeway

• Average flood discharge should not more than

40% of the highest flood discharge.
• The highest flood discharge should not flow in
the stream for more than 8 – 10 days in the year.
• Also not more than 4 – 5 hours for these days.

DATA TO BE COLLECTED FOR A CAUSEWAY

• Nature of the traffic
• Importance of the road
• Fund available
 Classification of causeway

• Flush causeway
• Low level causeway
• High level causeway
 Flush causeway
• In this only pavement is done in the stream
bed and no vent are provided.
• Flush causeway are provided in hilly roads,
when the max. depth of water does not
exceed 1700mm
 Low level causeway
• Small submersible bridge without openings.
• Sometimes partially vented by a few pipes.
• It is some times called as road dam
• It is provided with metalling at the top, it is
called as metal dip.
 High level causeway
• A bridge which allows normal flood to pass
through its vents and heavy flood to pass
over it.
• If the difference between ordinary and
highest flood is very great.
• When the road is less improvement and the
traffic is small
• The floor is sandy, but good soil is available
at a lower depth.
 SUPERSTRUCTURE

• Part of bridge / culvert above the girder

bearing is called as superstructure.

TYPES OF BRIDGE
SUPERSTRUCUTURE
• Deck Type
• Through Type
• Semi- Through type
 Deck type
• When the flooring is supported over the
top flange / beam of the girder, it is called
as a deck type bridge.
 Through type
• When the flooring is subjected on the
bottom flange / beam by means of cross
girders, it is called as through type bridge.
 Semi-through type
• When the flooring is supported near the mid
height of the girder by means of cross
girder, it is called as a semi-through type
bridge.
 Girder bridge
• Steel Girder Bridge
• RC Girder Bridge
• Pre stressed Concrete Girder Bridge

STEEL GIRDER BRIDGE

• Beam Bridge
• Plate Girder Bridge
• Open web Girder Bridge
Steel girder bridge
Suspension bridge
SUBSTRUCTURE
 ABUTMENTS
 The end support of the bridge superstructure is known as
abutment.
 It may be of Brick masonry, stone masonry, precast
concrete blockers or R.C blocks.

FUNCTIONS OF ABUTMENTS
 To transmit the load from the bridge superstructure to
the foundation.
 To retain the earth filling of the embankment.
 To give final formation to the bridge.
 COMPONENT PARTS OF ABUTMENT
• Body wall
• Breast wall / Back wall
• Weep holes
• Foundation concrete
• Bed block
 TYPES OF ABUTMENTS

• Abutment for masonry arch bridge

• Abutment for R.C. arch bridge
• Abutment for girder bridge
 PIERS
 The intermediate supports of a bridge superstructure
are called pier.
 It may be constructed using brick, stones, P.C.C / R.C

USE OF PIERS
 To transmit loads from the bridge superstructure to the
foundation.
 To divide the total length of bridge into suitable spans.
 TYPES OF PIERS

 Abutment Pier
 Dumb – Bell Pier
 Solid Pier
 Column Pier
 Trestle Pier
 Cylindrical Pier
 Pile Pier
ABUTMENT PIERS
 WING - WALLS

 Masonry walls constructed on either ends of an

abutment.
 To support and protect the embankment.

FUNCTIONS
 To provide a smooth entry of water into the bridge
site.
 To support and protect the embankment.
 CLASSIFICATION OF WING WALLS

• According to their positions in plain with respect to

abutments.

1. Straight wing - walls

2. Splayed wing - walls
3. Return wing - walls
 BEARINGS

 A device used in long span bridges to avoid

development of high stresses in main girders due to
temperature changes.

PURPOSE OF BEARINGS
 To distribute the load of superstructure to sub
structure.
 Capable to accommodate max. expected deck
movement and rotation.
 TYPES OF BEARINGS

• Fixed Bearing
• Rocker – Roller Bearing
• Rocker – Bearing
• Rocker Bearing with curved bottom
• Sliding Plate Bearing
• Sole Plate on curved bed plate bearing
Rocker – Bearing
 CLASSIFICATION OF BRIDGES

• Function
• Material of construction
• Position of Bridge
• Type of Superstructure
• Inter Span Relations
• Span Length
• Road Level
• Service and Usage
ROAD BRIDGE
RAILWAY BRIDGE
DECK BRIDGE
ACCORDING TO MATERIAL
 ACCORDING TO SPAN LENGTH
• Culvert (Less than 6m)
• Minor Bridge ( 6 to 30m)
• Major Bridge ( above 30m )
• Long Span Bridge ( above 120m)

ACCORDING TO INTERSPAN RELATIONSHIP

• Simple Bridge
• Cantilever Bridge
• Continuous Bridge

ACCORDING TO SERVICE
• Permanent Bridge
• Temporary Bridge
 SUPERSTRUCTURE

• It is the part of bridge above the girder

bearing.
 TYPES OF BRIDGE SUPERSTRUCTURE
• Deck type
• Through type
• Semi-through type
 DECK TYPE

• The flooring is supported over the top

flange or beam of the girder.
 THROUGH TYPE

• The flooring is supported on the bottom

flange or beam by means of cross girders.
 SEMI-THROUGH TYPE

• The flooring is supported near the mid

height of the girder by means of cross
girders.
 girder bridges

• Steel girder bridges

• R.C girder bridges

• Prestressed concrete girder bridges

Steel girder & R.C girder bridges
 Continuous steel bridge
• The trusses are supported at intermediate points.
• Bending moment is smaller than simply supported beam.
• More economical than simply supported type.
 R.C.Continuous bridge
• This type is used for long spans (about 50m).
• The superstructure may be continuous with piers and abutments.
 Suspension bridges
• This bridges utilize wire rope which support the roadway by
suspender.
• Used for long spans
5.6 BRIDGE BEARINGS
 bearing
 A device used in long span bridges to avoid
development of high stresses in main girders due
to temperature changes.

PURPOSE OF BEARINGS
 To distribute the load of superstructure to sub
structure.
 Capable to accommodate max. expected deck
movement and rotation
 TYPES OF BEARINGS

• Fixed Bearing
• Rocker – Roller Bearing
• Rocker – Bearing
• Rocker Bearing with curved bottom
• Sliding Plate Bearing
• Sole Plate on curved bed plate bearing
 Fixed bearing
• It is provided to prevent any longitudinal movement of girder.
• It is suitable only for small span up to 12m.
 Rocker-roller bearing
• Suitable for larger spans.
• This bearing allows longitudinal as well as angular movement
of main girder
 Rocker bearing
• Suitable for larger span (more than 21 m)
 Sliding plate bearing
• This bearing allows longitudinal expansion or contraction due to the
variations in temperature or live load