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Introduction to Bridges
By Doug Knight This introduction discusses bridge types and real-world considerations for building bridges

Why have a bridge

To get across a gap - often water-filled May also carry water - called an aquaduct

How can we get across the gap

Ford or swim Get wet Current may be too strong Cold water Stepping stones Cannot use for wheeled traffic Slippery Deep water Ferry Floating bridge Not carry heavy traffic Must be tended Cut down a tree Two logs tied together One log rolls

Limited span Need a tree

So we build a bridge
Rope Bridge How do you get the rope across Maintenance Not too stable Beam Solid pillar on both ends

Truss Uses strength and rigidity of triangles

Cantilever Anchor one end, and rest the other on beam with a bit hanging out

Cantilever with suspended span

Suspension Need real solid anchor for the cable May flap in the wind

Portable bridges - pontoon bridges

What materials are used in bridge construction?

Wood Quick Deteriorates quickly Burns Stone More durable But span is limited Iron Strong Expensive Upkeep is difficult (rust) Concrete Usually with steel rods inside it - rebar Road surface Asphalt

What does an engineer have to consider in building a bridge

Length of the crossing Weight the bridge must carry - vehicle weight plus its own Ice loads Ship collision loads Water eroding the support piers - erosion Seismic effects - earthquake - applies even here Height of the bridge - do ships have to go underneath? CONFEDERATION BRIDGE VG Strength of the land it will sit on - PEACE RIVER BRIDGE VG Weather conditions HARTLAND BRIDGE VG Wind affect - TACOMA NARROWS BRIDGE VG Environmental effects - what will the bridge do to the environment? How long must it last? Funding

What if we have to put a support in the middle of the river?

Supports must be on bedrock Use a cofferdam and pump out the water - good for shallow water Large metal cylinder (caisson) and gradually dig it into the river bed pressure becomes a problem, because the pressure inside the cylinder must be high enough to keep the water out - nitrogen narcosis - the bends - Brooklyn Bridge Dredge the silt and place pre-assembled pieces in place from a floating barge - Confederation Bridge

Expansion Joint
Allows the bridge to expand with differences in temperature One end fixed - the other slides Cable stretches - bridge moves up and down

Famous Canadian Bridges Quebec Bridge - longest cantilever RR bridge in the world Confederation Bridge - longest bridge in the world over an icecovered waterway Sault Ste Marie Bridge - railway swing bridge Hartland NB - longest covered bridge Peace River Bridge - suspension bridge - fell down

http://www.abcdpittsburgh.org/webshots.htm http://www.swishweb.com/Science_and_Technology/Bridges/ www.confederationbridge.com www. ufacademy.com/webmania/bridges www.buildingtechnology.com/bcba/bridges/basics.htm

Simple Beam Bridge

Truss - Uses strength and rigidity of triangles

Cantilever Span Anchor one end, and rest the other on beam with a bit hanging out

Cantilever with suspended span in the middle

Suspension Bridge

Peace River Bridge

Built in 1942, the foundations of the Peace River Bridge at Taylor, BC, were unknowingly built on unstable soil. Ground water eroded away the banks, and despite regular maintenance the bridge collapsed in October 1957.

Peace River Bridge after collapse

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Washington, USA)

Wind 1, Bridge 0

The wind rushing down the gorge started the bridge swaying and twisting. Eventually the bridge collapsed.

The Longest Covered Bridge in the World Hartland, New Brunswick

Cantilever Bridges
The Longest Cantilever Road Bridge in the World The Firth Bridge

The Longest Cantilever Railroad Bridge in the World Quebec Bridge

The Longest Bridge over an Ice-covered Waterway The Confederation Bridge linking New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island

The Sioux Narrows Bridge

An Example of a Truss Bridge

Aquaduct A Bridge That Carries Water

Pontoon Bridge