Overview of Bridge Construction Types
Uploaded by
ScribdTranslationsOverview of Bridge Construction Types
Uploaded by
ScribdTranslationsTHE BRIDGES
A bridge is a construction, generally artificial, that allows overcoming an obstacle.
geographical or any other physical obstacle such as a river, a canyon, a valley, a road, a track
ferrous, a body of water, or any obstruction. The design of each bridge varies depending
of its function and the nature of the terrain on which the bridge is built.
Your project and calculation belong to structural engineering, with many types of
designs that have been applied throughout history, influenced by the available materials,
developed techniques and economic considerations, among others.
PARTS OF A BRIDGE
Fundamentally, the superstructure and infrastructure are distinguished.
Superstructure: Generally constituted by the bridge beams,
diaphragms, board, sidewalks, posts, handrails, wearing surface or sleepers,
rails, etc.
Infrastructure: The entire set of piles (intermediate columns) and abutments
(retaining walls on the sides) that support the superstructure.
As intermediate elements between the superstructure and the infrastructure, there are the apparatuses.
of support.
Extended eaves of the bridges are also considered as accessory parts.
the stirrups, the defensive ones, the encircled ones, and protections, especially in cases of rivers
flowing, as well as the drainage sewers in the access embankments.
Main beams - They are named this way because they are the elements that allow for spanning the opening.
being able to have a great variety of shapes such as with straight beams, arches, porticoes, and grids,
beams, etc.
The secondary beams parallel to the main ones are called joists.
Diaphragms: They are beams perpendicular to the previous ones and serve for their bracing in some
beams become secondary beams when they are intended to transmit loads from the deck to the
main beams These perpendicular beams may have other names such as
beams or in other cases bridge beams
Board: It is the structural part that is at the subgrade level and transmits loads.
how to overload the joists and main beams.
The board: preferably made of reinforced concrete when it comes to spans.
smaller ones, made of metal to lighten the dead weight on larger bridges, is also referred to as
with the name of slab and it is usually executed in wood or other materials.
On the board and to continue the gradient of the track comes the wearing course that in the
the case of the bridges constitutes the wear folder and that at the right time it must be
response.
Pillars: They correspond to the intermediate columns and are made up of the following parts:
The crowning, which is the upper part where the pedestals of the support devices are located.
and consequently is subjected to concentrated loads, then comes the elevation which is the body.
properly from the pile and that in the case of bridges over rivers it receives the impact of the waters, then
the foundation comes that must remain buried ensuring the transmission of the loads to the
land of the foundation.
Struts: Unlike piles, struts receive not only the superstructure but also the thrust of
the lands of the access embankments to the bridge, consequently also work as walls
of containment. They are made up of the capping, the elevation, and its foundation and with the
characteristic of normally having eaves both upstream and downstream, to protect the
access embankment.
TYPES OF BRIDGES
There are various types of bridges, which can be classified in different ways:
For the building material (wood, steel, concrete...)
Due to its basic structure (arch, beam, suspensions...)
We will focus on the types of bridges following the classification according to their basic structure, as
that we consider most important.
We will talk about two types of bridges, following the classification by building material.
CONSTRUCTION OF STEEL BRIDGES
The advantages of steel construction, in certain cases, make this type of
structures in the most suitable solution for road and highway bridges. Factors such as
construction speed, ease of transport, adaptability to design changes, among others,
these are some of the virtues of a steel bridge.
However, there are inherent characteristics of this type of structures that must be considered.
at the time of designing them. The challenges that structural engineers face when designing
A steel bridge begins with the correct selection of the type of material to be used in the construction.
bridge and they address aspects such as the control of the bends in the beams during the
construction, or the control of a possible premature failure due to fatigue when the bridge is in
service.
Fortunately, there are currently methods and regulations that must be applied to
design, in such a way that the aforementioned aspects do not complicate performance
of the structure during its construction or service life. This article will address two
of these topics: the use of appropriate materials for steel bridges and the control of
the geometry of the structure during the casting of the slab.
CONSTRUCTION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BRIDGES
Reinforced concrete bridges are quick to assemble, as they often allow for many occasions
prefabricated elements are resilient, allowing to span greater distances than bridges
stone, although smaller than those made of iron, and they have very low maintenance costs,
since they are very resistant to the action of atmospheric agents
Basically, the shapes that bridges take are three, which, on the other hand, are
directly related to the efforts that support their structural elements. These
settings are:
Beam bridges. They are fundamentally made up of horizontal elements that
They are supported at their ends on supports or pillars. Meanwhile, the force that is transmitted
through the pillars is vertical and downward and, therefore, they are subjected to
compression efforts, the beams or horizontal elements tend to bend like
consequence of the loads they bear. The bending stress implies a compression in
the upper zone of the beams and a tension in the lower zone.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR BRIDGE DESIGN
Topographic Studies:
They enable the precise definition of the location and dimensions of structural elements,
as well as basic information for other studies.
Hydrology and Hydraulic Studies:
Establish the hydrological characteristics of extraordinary maximum flows and floods.
the hydraulic factors that lead to a real appreciation of the hydraulic behavior of
river.
Hydrological and Geotechnical Studies:
They establish the geological characteristics both local and general of the various formations.
geological features that are being identified in terms of their distribution and characteristics
corresponding geotechnical.
Seismic Risk Studies:
They aim to determine the design spectra that define the horizontal components.
and vertical of the earthquake at the foundation level.
MOST COMMON CAUSES OF BRIDGE FAILURES
River behavior (Scouring, river dynamics)
Lack of maintenance of the bridges by the responsible entity.
Earthquakes
Note: These causes can occur in isolation or in combination.
In these images we can observe
that the bridge is metallic, has a
slab so that they can transit the
vehicles in the direction of the axis of the bridge.
We can also observe the works of
protection that has been carried out as
retaining walls on both sides.
In these images we can observe that
the bridge is made of reinforced concrete, it has a
slab for vehicles to transit
in both directions of the axis of the bridge.
We can also observe the works of
protection that has been carried out as walls
of containment on both sides.
In addition, there is a shot of a
irrigation canal with its gates.
