What is a bridge?

A bridge is a structure providing passage over an obstacle without closing the way beneath. The
required passage may be for a road, a railway, pedestrians, a canal or a pipeline. The obstacle to be
crossed may be a river, a road, railway or a valley. In other words, the bridge is a structure fpr
carrying the road traffic or other moving loads over a depression or obstruction such as channel, road
or railway.

Components of bridge

• Superstructure or Decking

This includes slab, girder, truss, etc. This bears the load passing over it and transmits the forces
caused by the same to the substructures.

• Bearings

The bearings transmit the load received from the decking on to the substructure and are provided for
distribution of the load evenly over the substructure material which may not have sufficient bearing
strength to bear the superstructure load directly.

• Substructure

This comprises piers and abutments, wing walls or returns and their foundation.

• Piers and Abutments

These are vertical structures supporting deck/bearing provided for transmitting the load down to the
bed/earth through foundation.

• Wing walls and Returns

These are provided as extension of the abutments to retain the earth of approach bank which
otherwise has a natural angle of repose.

• Foundation

This is provided to transmit the load from the piers or abutments and wings or returns to and evenly
distribute the load on to the strata. This is to be provided sufficiently deep so that it is not affected
by the scour caused by the flow in the river and does not get undermined. While the above
mentioned are structurally
operational parts, for safety
handrails or parapets, guard rails or
curbs are provided over the decking
in order to prevent vehicle or user
from falling into the stream or for
the separation of traffic streams.
TYPES OF BRIDGES

1. Beam Bridge

Beam Bridges are the simplest bridge type which normally consist of one or more spans, supported
by abutment or a pier at each end. Beam bridges are usually constructed of RCC or steel or a
combination of both RCC and steel. The concrete elements used in beam bridges my be reinforced,
prestressed or post-tensioned.

Compression and Tension

• Compression: As live loads, such as cars and trucks travel across the bridge, the force of
compression acts on the top of the roadway and passes down into the piers.
• Tension: The force of tension acts on the underside of the roadway, which is pulled apart by
the live loads pressing down on the top of the roadway.

2. Arch Bridges

Arch bridges were built by the Romans and have been in use ever since. They are often chosen for
their strength and appearance. It is the shape of the arch that gives the bridge its strength, which is
reinforced by placing supports or abutments, as its base. Arch bridges can be built from various
materials, including wood, stone, concrete and steel.

Compression: The force of compression is greatest at the top of the arch. The abutments press
against the bottom of the arch, preventing the bases of the arch from being pushed outward.

Tension: The force of tension is strongest at the bottom of the arch and pulls the sides outwar ds. In
general, the larger and shallower the arch, the greater the effects of tension and need for abutment
support.
Types of arch bridges:

• Hinge-less arch bridge

• Two hinged arch
bridge
• Three hinged arch
bridge
• Tied arch bridge

3. Truss bridges

The superstructure of truss bridge is constructed by using trusses which are comprised of many small
elements forming triangular trusses. Truss is used because it is very rigid structure, and it can transfer
the load from a single point to much wider area.

Compression: As traffic pushes down on the roadway, compression acts on the upper horizontal
members of the truss structure.

Tension: Tension acts on the bottom horizontal members of the truss structure. The forces of tension
and compression are shared among the angled members.
 4. Suspension Bridges

In suspension bridge, the deck slab is suspended using ropes, chains or high tensile strength steel
cables. The roadway hangs from massive steel cables, which are draped over two towers and secured
by anchors on both ends of the bridge. The anchors are made from solid concrete blocks. The cables
transfer the loads into compression in two towers. Usually, this type of bridge can span 2000-7000
feet.

Compression: Traffic pushes down on the roadway, but because it is suspended from the cables, the
weight is carried by the cables, which transfer the force of compression to the 2 towers.

Tension: The force of tension is constantly acting on the cables, which are stretched because the
roadway is suspended from them.

1 - San Francisco - Golden Gate

 5. Cable Stayed Bridges

Cable-stayed bridges are like suspension bridges as they also use cables but in different form. They
consist of fewer cables and the height of the towers is much greater than suspension bridge.

Compression: As traffic pushes down on the roadway, thew cables, to which the roadway is
attached, transfer the load to the towers, putting them in compression.

Tension: The force of tension is constantly acting on the cables, which are stretched because they are
attached to the roadway.

2- Oresund Bridge – Malmö to Kopenhagen

 6. Cantilever Bridges

A cantilever Bridge is formed of cantilevers projecting from supporting piers. The ends of a cantilever
bridge are treated as fixed. A cantilever bridge combines the advantages of a simply supported span
and a continuous span. For long spans and deep valleys and at places where it will not be practicable
to use centering, cantilever bridges are more suitable. They are suitable in case of uneven settlement
of foundation. The construction of a cantilever bridge may either be of simple type or of balanced
type.