SC 472

Design of Bridges

Introduction
Lecture No. 1
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 Course Content
1. Introduction
2. Types of Bridges
3. Superstructures and Substructures
4. Loads on Bridges and Load Combinations
5. Load Distribution Methods
6. Concrete Deck Design
7. Beams Design
7. Foundation Design
8. Load Capacity Rating of Existing Bridges
9. Case Studies on Evaluation and Rehabilitation of
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Existing Bridges
 References
1) AASHTO, "Standard Specification for Highway
Bridges", 16th Edition, 1996.

2) BS5400-2, "Steel, Concrete and Composite Bridges.

Specification for Loads", Part 2,1988, British Standards.

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 Definition :
Bridge
A structure which spans across a gorge/valley/river
between two points and carries specified design loads

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 History
Log Bridge or Culvert

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Improved Log -Tree trunk
Bridge

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Clapper Bridge - Stones

Arching principle

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Canoes joined with timber

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Rope bridges

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Improved Rope Bridge

Suspension bridge principle

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 History of Bridges

100 B.C. Romans 700 A.D. Asia

2,104 years ago 1,304 years
ago

Roman Arch Bridge

Great Stone Bridge in China
Arch design Low bridge
evenly distributes Shallow arch
stresses Allows boats
Natural concrete and water to pass
made from mud through
and straw
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 History of Bridges

1900

1920

Truss Bridges
Mechanics of
Design
2000
Wood
Suspension Bridges

Use of steel in
suspending cables

Prestressed
Concrete
Steel
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 Basic Concepts

Span - the distance between two bridge

supports, whether they are columns, towers
or the wall of a canyon.

Force -

Compression –

Tension -
Compression Tension

Concrete has good compressive strength, but

extremely low or negligible tensile strength.
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 Basic Concepts

Beam - a rigid, usually horizontal, structural element

Beam

Pier

Pier - a vertical supporting structure, such as a pillar

Cantilever - a projecting structure supported only at one end,

like a shelf bracket or a diving board

Load - weight on a structure

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Truss - a rigid frame composed of short, straight
pieces joined to form a series of triangles or other
stable shapes

Stable - ability to resist collapse and deformation;

stability (n.) characteristic of a structure that is able to
carry design loads without collapsing or deforming
significantly

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 Types of Bridges
Basic Types:
•Truss Bridge
•Beam Bridge (slab, slab and beam)
•Arch Bridge
•Suspension Bridge Floating
•Floating Bridge

Truss Beam Arch

The type of bridge used depends on the obstacle. The main

feature that controls the bridge type is the size of the obstacle.

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 Truss Bridge

All beams in a truss bridge are straight. Trusses are

comprised of many small beams that together can support
a large amount of load and span great distances.
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 Types of Bridges

Beam Bridge

Consists of a horizontal beam supported at each end by piers.

The weight of the beam pushes straight down on the piers. The
farther apart its piers, the weaker the beam becomes. This is
why beam bridges rarely span more than 75.00 m.

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 Types of Bridges

Beam Bridge

Forces
When something pushes down on the beam, the beam
bends. Its top edge is compressed together, and its
bottom edge is pulled apart.

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 Types of Bridges
Arch Bridges

The arch has great natural strength. Thousands of years ago,

Romans built arches out of stone. Today, most arch bridges are
made of steel or concrete, and they can span up to 800 feet.

Forces
The arch is squeezed together, and this squeezing force is carried
outward along the curve to the supports at each end. The supports,
called abutments, push back on the arch and prevent the ends of
the arch from spreading apart.

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 Types of Bridges
Suspension Bridges
This kind of bridges can span 600 m to 2000 m -- way farther
than any other type of bridge! Most suspension bridges have a
truss system beneath the roadway to resist bending and
twisting.

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 Types of Bridges

Suspension Bridges
Forces
In all suspension bridges, the roadway hangs from massive
steel cables, which are draped over two towers and secured
into solid concrete blocks, called anchorages, on both ends of
the bridge. The cars push down on the roadway, but because
the roadway is suspended, the cables transfer the load into
compression in the two towers. The two towers support most of
the bridge's weight.

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 Cable Stayed Bridge
The cable-stayed bridge, like the suspension bridge, supports
the roadway with massive steel cables, but in a different way.
The cables run directly from the roadway up to a tower,
forming a unique "A" shape.
Cable-stayed bridges are becoming the most popular bridges
for medium-length spans of between 160m and 1,000m

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 Decision On Type Of Bridge
Bridge Survey
• flood plain cross sections
• inspection reports
• existing bridge information
(scour, etc)
• water elevations
• existing roadway profile
• photos
Geotechnical Report
• soil / geological formations
• slopes and grading
• foundation problems
• soil properties
Factors affecting choice of superstructure
• location, city or rural
• span length
• vertical clearance
• maintainability
• environmental aspects
• transportation to site issues
• cost
Factors affecting choice of substructure
• location and geometry
• subsoil conditions
• height of support members (piers and
abutments)
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 Design Parameters

Bridge Structures are designed depending

on the following parameters:
• Available Hydrological data
• Effective Span
• Conditions of subsoil
• Loads to be applied
• Materials
• Shapes

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Bridge Components (BS 5400-2:1978 cl.3.2.10)
Superstructure
All structures above bridge bearings. This is the
bridge part that is supported by piers and
abutments.

Substructure
All structures below bridge bearings
Includes wingwalls, piers, towers and abutments
that support the superstructure as well as
foundation. Foundation here, is that part in direct
contact with and tramsmits load to the ground.