Bridge Engineering Lecture 1

Lecture 1: Types of bridges

What is bridge?

The bridge is a rigid structure, which built on obstacle for providing the passage over an
obstruction. The required passage may be for railways, roads, canals, pipelines, etc. There are
different types of bridges each serves a specific purpose and selected at different situations.

Al-Sarafiya Bridge designed by a UK company

Components of a bridge

The bridge structure comprises of the following parts.

Superstructure (Decking)

Superstructure comprises of slab or girder or truss, etc. Super-structure bears the load passing
over the passage and transmits the forces caused by the same to the sub-structures.

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Bearings

Substructure does not have enough bearing strength to take the superstructure load directly on
it. To support these loads, bearings are equipped. Bearings help to carry the load from the deck
and distribute it evenly over the substructure material.

Substructure

Substructure comprises of piers, abutments, wing walls that are provided to transmit a load of
the superstructure to the earth.

Types of bridges

1. Arch bridge

An arch bridge is the most popular type of bridge which is extensively used by ancient
Romans. The arch bridge is usually made up of stone, concrete or steel. As the name itself
mirroring that, the bridge is in the shape of an arch. An arch bridge is a curve shaped bridge
where the load on the curve is not directly applied straight down, but instead, loads are carried
along the curve of the arch to the end of supports. Meaning that no part of the bridge takes a
high amount of pressure. These supports are also called as abutments. Abutments carry loads of
the entire bridge & it is responsible for holding the arch in a precise position.

The no. of curves (arches) in a bridge depends on stress and loads that bridge should
support. The span length of arch bridges is normally up to 250m, and the roadway of the
bridge lies on the arch structure.

Advantages of Arch Bridge:

1. Easy to build with the locally available material.

2. These type of bridges are very rigid and extremely strong.

3. Arch bridges are built up with a variety of materials like stone, concrete, steel, etc.

Disadvantages of Arch Bridge:

1. They take a long time to build.

2. It requires a massive amount of building materials to build.

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2. Beam Bridge

This type of bridges are simply supported bridges consisting of horizontal beams and vertical
piers; Beam bridges are also named as stringer bridge or girder bridge. These type of bridges
are typically spanned with two or more spans and supported by abutment or pier at each end.
This type of bridges are constructed using RCC, wood, steel etc. Beam bridges have span less
than 80m.

As mentioned above, beam bridges are simply supported bridges (beam that is supported on
piers), where the beam is laid across the supports. In this type of bridges, the beam should be
strong enough to bear the loads on it. These loads are further carried to bridge supports and
then to earth.

The top edge of the beam possesses compression as the loads are applied on it where the lower
part of the beam is being stretched and is under tension.

Advantages of Beam Bridge:

1. This type of beams are very easy to construct and erect.

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2. This type of beams are good for short spans.

3. Wide distances can be spanned by resting beams on piers.

4. Ease in constructing temporary bridges.

Disadvantages of Beam Bridge:

1. Can be expensive, requires RCC to build.

2. They are spanned by limits.

3. Cantilever bridge:

The word cantilever refers that the beam which has only one support and the other end is kept
free in space. Cantilever bridges are same to this but do not think that one end of the bridge is
kept free. Cantilever bridges are constructed in parts and the two free ends are connected with
suspended deck. Cantilever bridge has a span in between 150m-500m.

Any bridge is subjected to compression and tension forces. In this type of bridge, the
suspended deck is provided to join the two free ends of the cantilever bridge.

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When the load is applied on cantilever bridge, the top supports are subjected to a tensional
force, and bottom supports are subjected to the compression force which makes the bridge to
be balanced. As long as force is balanced, the bridge will stand in stable position.

Advantages of Cantilever Bridge:

1. This type of bridges are adopted only when the supports cannot be provided at specific
positions.

2. Support is required only on one side of the cantilever.

Disadvantages of Cantilever Bridge:

1. Cantilever bridges are prone to high turning stress during construction.

2. If the forces are not balanced, the bridge may buckle.

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4. Suspension bridges

This type of bridges are constructed by suspending the deck slab using suspension cables. The
roadway is hanged using steel cables which are connected to two towers and secured by
anchors on both ends of the bridge.

In addition to the deck slab, the truss system is also featured with truss system just beneath the
deck which helps to stiffen and to keeps the deck in precise position to reduce the tendency of
the roadway to sway. The span length of Suspension bridge is in between 150m-2000m

Advantages of Suspension bridge:

1. Strong and lightweight.

2. These type of bridges provide long span which helps in crossing the river.

Disadvantages of Suspension bridge:

1. Expensive to build.

2. Prone to sway and ripple with the wind, so this type of bridges are not suitable for railways.

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5. Cable-stayed bridge

This type of the bridge are modern bridges and it is similar to the suspension bridge. In this
type, cables are connected directly to the tower instead of suspended cables. Tension is
constantly acting on the cables, which are stretched because they are attached to the roadway.
This type of bridge does not have any anchorages to bear the compression and has only one
tower to carry the compression. The span length of Cable stayed bridge is in between 500m-
1000m.

Advantages of Cable-Stayed Bridge:

1. It is more economical when compared with the suspension bridge.

2. It is good for medium spans and can be easily built by cantilevering out from the tower.

Disadvantages of Cable-Stayed Bridge:

1. Maintenance and inspection may be more difficult.

2. This type of bridges is not suitable for far distances.

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6. Truss Bridge

Truss is a framework consisting of struts (inclined members). These bridges are constructed by
using trusses which are comprised of many small elements forming triangular trusses. The span
length of truss bridge is in between 50m-110m.

Trusses are very rigid, lightweight and can support heavy loads. Trusses serve in transferring
the load from a single point to the wider area. The weight of the bridge is very less when
compared with other types.

When the load is applied to the truss bridge, the top edge possess compression and loads are
shared among the angled members to supports and then to earth.

Advantages of Truss Bridge:

1. This type of bridge is easily built in the factory and then framed on site.

2. The piers or supports are comparatively less when compared to the beam bridge,

3. They are strong and rigid and very light on weight possess efficient use of materials.

Disadvantages of Truss Bridges:

1. Requires high skilled professionals to design it.

2. They are more complex than beam bridges in terms of designing.

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Types of Bridges by Mobility

Fixed Bridges

Fixed bridges are simple: They are anchored in place and meant to provide a steady, secure
passage across a river, canyon, rail line, roadway, or other obstacle. Many of the bridge styles
described above are in this category.

I-beam girders can provide stability in beam bridges, such as highway overpasses, but box
girders — enclosed tubes, usually rectangular — provide better protection against torsion.

Temporary Bridges

Pontoon bridges are most commonly used in wartime to transport troops, supplies, and military
vehicles. These are generally temporary structures that float directly on the water atop
pontoons — containers filled with air to provide buoyancy.

They are a successor to the ancient practice of lining up ships or rafts end-to-end to form a
bridge. One drawback of pontoon bridges is that, because they rest directly on the water’s
surface, they obstruct any watercraft trying to navigate the channel they cross.

Movable Bridges

The category of movable bridges includes lifting and swinging bridges. These allow a portion
of the structure to move out of the way and allow passage of tall ships in a waterway. Here are
some examples:

A vertical lift bridge is a kind of truss bridge that is raised using cables affixed to the deck.
These allow it to be raised via pulleys attached to the top of a tower or pylon on either side of
the waterway. The deck remains horizontal as it is raised, and its maximum height is dictated
by the height of the towers.

Swing bridges also allow watercraft to pass, but using a different method: They rotate
horizontally, or swing like an opening door, on a pedestal. They are not as common, but they
are used occasionally in places too wide for a lift bridge.

Traverser bridges use cantilevers that can be rolled out over a channel on wheels or withdrawn,
giving the effect of a platform moving horizontally.

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Common Types of Bridges by Function

Aqueduct/Viaduct Bridge

An aqueduct is a “water bridge” in Latin. The Romans used arched aqueducts to carry water
from one place to another. A viaduct is a roadway elevated by a series of arches over an
extended distance.

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Culvert

Culverts are not technically bridges, but they are similar. Simple structures usually surrounded
by soil or other fill, these allow water to flow underneath rather than across a road, trail, or rail
line. Culvert are often made of concrete, but some are simple corrugated pipes.

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Double-Decked Bridge

A double-decked bridge can accommodate more traffic in densely populated areas. The
Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge in China, which opened in 2019 at a cost of $1.27 billion, is
the longest double-decker suspension bridge in the world, at 5,500 feet.

Its upper deck features six lanes for each direction of freeway traffic, plus pedestrian footpaths
and sightseeing areas to the sides. The lower deck carries another four local motor vehicle
lanes, two lanes for non-motorized vehicles, and two more pedestrian walkways.

Pedestrian Bridge

Footbridges, or pedestrian bridges, can be simple spans across canyons, streams, or roadways
wide enough for a person (or two people side-by-side) to cross. The earliest bridges were

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stepping-stones or fallen trees. This type also includes swinging bridges and boardwalks, which
typically traverse lower, marshy, or sandy land.

Pipeline Bridge

A pipeline bridge is built to carry a gas- or liquid-bearing pipeline. These run through places
where it is not possible to build the pipeline under a river or other obstacle. These are often
suspension bridges.

Train Bridge

Truss bridges became prominent in the 1800s, when railroads were the pinnacle of
transportation, so it is no surprise that many truss bridges carry rail lines. Another kind of train
bridge is the trestle, which consists of multiple short beams end-to-end, supported by (often
wooden) frames placed close together to cross a long span.

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Vehicle Traffic Bridge

A traffic bridge is wide and sturdy enough for at least one vehicle to traverse in a single
direction, although usually it accommodates at least two lanes of opposing traffic.

Types of Bridge Materials

Around the world, bridges are made of almost any material at hand. The following materials
are the most common used in bridge building:

Wood: A popular material for trusses and trestles in the 1800s, wood was also used for covered
bridges. Its use gave way to more durable options that were not susceptible to warping,
splintering, and termites.

Stone: A low-maintenance and durable option often used for arched bridges, stone was often
used for bridge-building in the Roman era.

Concrete and steel: In more modern times, a combination of concrete and steel is most often
used for freeway overpasses, etc.

Steel:

Advanced materials: Construction materials are evolving to respond to specific environmental

conditions and cut down on maintenance. These include fiber-reinforced plastics, high-
performance concrete, and composite materials.

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