Document Interpretation

Training on
Supervision and Management
of Bridge

Presented by
Nabin Chandra Sharma
Associate Professor
Institute of Engineering

Issues
on Document Interpretation

Identification of
bridge

shape and size of major component of

Listing of obligation of different parties according to the

contract document
Verification of standard specification using yellow book of
DOR

Checking of implementation of Environment Management Plan

Checking of discrepancies between construction and design
drawing
Analysis of works schedule
Verification of invoice

Identification of shape and size of

major component of bridge

Bridges and their types

Bridge

Components
Bridge

A bridge is a structure provided in railway , highway,

footway and service way over intersection of roads,
rivers, streams, lakes etc for smooth crossing of trains,
vehicles , people and utility services.

of
Superstructure
Bearing
Substructure
Appurtenances and
Site related Structures

Superstructure
The structural components above the level of bearing
are classed as superstructure. Superstructure provides
base for moving vehicles, trains and pedestrians.
Wearing surface
The wearing surface is that portion of deck,
which resists traffic wear. In most instances this
is a separate layer made of bituminous material.

Deck

Deck
The deck is the physical extension of the
roadway across the obstruction to be bridged. In
most instances this is a Reinforced Concrete
Slab.
Primary members
Primary members are those, which distribute
bridge loads longitudinally. Primary members
consists of beam, truss, arch or frame.

Secondary members
Secondary members are bracing between
primary members help to distribute loads
transversely

Primary
Member

Secondary
Member
4

Bearing
The mechanical device
placed
between
superstructure
and
substructure to transmit
vertical and horizontal
load to substructure,
allowing
some
translational
and
rotational movements.

Bearing

Appurtenances and site related structures

Appurtenances is the part of a bridge or bridge site, which
are non structural components and serve in the overall
functionality of the structure
Embankment
structure

and

slope

protection

Structures which provide proper drainage ,

control erosion and increase aesthetics of
bridge.

Approach slab
Slab, which provides smooth transition of
loads from flexible road surface to rigid bridge
surface.

River training structure

Structure, which guide and regulate the river
course in desired direction and protects
bridge substructures
6

Components of Bridge

Steel Truss
Approach Slab

RC Girder

Bearing

Road Way

Flood level

Abutment with
Pile Foundation

Embankment
protection work

River Bed

Pier with Well Foundation

Bridge Components

Embankment

Approach slab
Expansion Joint

Approach Road

Bridge Railing

Railing Post
Kerb
Abutment

Longitudinal girder
Cross girder

Pier Cap

Well Cap

Stopper
Pile Cap

Well Steining
Bearing
Pier

Bottom Plug

Well Curb
Piles

Wing Walls

Different types of bridges

and their characteristics
According to the materials used in
the superstructure

Timber Bridge
Masonry Bridge
RCC Bridge
Steel Bridge
Composite Bridge
Prestressed Concrete Bridge

According to the span length of bridge

Culvert
Minor Bridge

Major Bridge

Special Bridge

Span 6m
Length 50
Span 25m
Span > 25m
Length > 50m
Span > 50m

According to the type of

superstructure

Slab Bridge
T-beam Bridge
Box Girder Bridge
Frame Bridge
Truss Bridge
Arch Bridge
Suspension Bridge
Cable Stayed Bridge

According to the support

conditions of superstructure

Simply Supported Bridge

Cantilever Bridge
Continuous Bridge
Rigid Frame Bridge

Different types of bridges

and their characteristics

According to the type of service

According to the means of

transport

Highway Bridge
Railway Bridge
Pedestrians Bridge
Utility Bridge

According to the floor arrangement

Permanent Bridge
Temporary Bridge

According to the profile of the bridge

Straight bridge
Skewed bridge
Curved bridge

Curved bridge

Deck Bridge
Through Bridge
Half Through Bridge
Skewed bridge
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Slab Bridge
Solid slab bridge

Solid slab bridge with

cantilever footpath

Voided slab bridge with cantilever

footpath

Negative aspects
Positive aspects

Increases clearance above the afflux due to the

shallow depth of slab
Gives clean attractive appearance
Has good lateral load distribution characteristics
due to its good torsional stiffness
Requires low maintenance cost

Has heavy self weight

Economically not effective for large span
of bridge
Can cover small span<15m

11

General Arrangements of Deck of Solid Slab Bridge

Railing
Kerb

Wearing
Course

CW
D

RC Slab

Drainage
Spout
Expansion Joint

RC Slab

Tar Paper

Abutment
Approach
Slab

T-Beam Bridge
Multi-girder bridge deck

Twin girder bridge deck

Negative aspects

Positive aspects

Gives less clean appearance

Can be economically effective up to 30 m
span of bridge

Easy to construct due to its simple geometry

Gives economy due to monolithic construction of beam
and slab
13

General Arrangements of Deck of T-Beam Bridge

CW
Railing

Wearing
Course

Kerb

Cross girder
Main girder
at support

Drainage
Spout
Main girder
Elastomeric Bearing
Pier

Expansion Joint

Abutment
Approach
Slab

Composite Bridge

General Arrangements of Composite Bridge

Shear Connector

RC Slab

Wearing
Course

Kerb
Drainage
Spout

Main Plate Girder

Steel Beam

Elastomeric Bearing

Pier

Expansion Joint

Abutment
Approach
Slab

Truss Bridge

Positive aspects

Easy to construct
Has rigid structure and can cover
relatively larger span (300m)

Negative aspects

Reduces vertical clearances above the afflux

due to its depth
Requires thorough maintenance regularly
No longer economically competitive
Gives rough appearance

Different forms of Truss Bridge

Parallel Chord Warren Truss

Span coverage 30 to 50m

Curve Chord Warren Truss

Span coverage 50 to 75m

Parallel Chord Pratt Truss

Span coverage 30 to 50m

Curve Chord Pratt Truss

Span coverage 50 to 75m

K Type Truss
Span coverage 75 to 150m

General Arrangements of Truss Bridge

Components of Truss Bridge

H
H

B
d
D
D

H - L/20 to L/6
D B/(15 to 20)
D Span/ 20
S 1.5m to 2m
d 200mm
H Vertical Clearance
B Horizontal Clearance
= 450 t0 550

Box Girder Bridge

Single cell box girder

Multi cell box girder

Positive aspects

Reduces cost of construction for large span

Gives good appearance
Has good lateral load distribution characteristics and
suitable for curved bridges
Can be economically effective for span greater than
30m

Negative aspects

Cast in situ is not simple

Heavy machineries and high skills are required
to construct
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Arch Bridge
Through Arch Bridge

Positive aspects

Gives good appearance

Can be given economical structure if
the profile of arch is apportioned
appropriately

Deck Arch Bridge

Negative aspects

Half Through Arch Bridge

Requires good subsoil conditions for

its foundation
Requires high fabrication and erection
cost

24

Frame Bridge
Positive aspects

Gives good appearance

Not
requires
expensive
bearings
Gives more stable structure
Can cover span up to 100m

Frame bridge over river intersection

Negative aspects

Frame bridge over road intersection

Requires good subsoil

conditions for its foundation

25

Suspension Bridge

Positive aspects

Negative aspects

Gives good appearance

Requires less numbers of expensive
bearings
Can be constructed without extra support
Can cover long span

Requires good subsoil conditions for

the anchorage of its cables
Can be economical only for long span
Requires thorough maintenance
regularly

26

Cable Stayed Bridge

Positive aspects

Gives good appearance

Requires less numbers of expensive
bearings
Can be constructed without extra support
Can cover long span
Gives greater stiffness than in suspension
bridge

Negative aspects

Requires taller tower than in suspension

bridge
Can be economical only for long span
Requires thorough maintenance regularly

27

Span Ranges
for Different Type of Bridges
Based on Technical and Economical Factors

S.N.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

8
9
10

Type of Bridge

R. C. Slab
R.C. T Girder
Composite
R.C. Box
Prestressed Concrete Box
Arch
Masonry
Concrete
Steel
Cable stayed
Suspension
Truss

Span (m)

6-10
10-30
25-40
30-50
40-80
15-30
40-70
50-100
100-2000
300-2000
25-300

Bridge Bearing

Bearing is a mechanical device placed

between superstructure and substructure to
transmit vertical and horizontal load allowing
some translational and rotational movement.

Translational and rotational movement of bridge deck may be in

longitudinal or transverse or other direction of bridge
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Types of Bridge Bearing

Bearing

Fixed Bearing
Bearing, which allows rotational movement
Free Bearing (Expansion Bearing)
Bearing, which allows horizontal and rotational movement

Metalic Bearing
Bearing made up of Metal i.e. steel or cast iron
Elastomeric Bearing
Bearing made up of artificial rubber (Neoprene)

30

Metalic Bearing

Roller Bearing
Single Roller
Multiple Roller
Rocker Bearing
Linear Rocker
Point Rocker
Rocker Cum Roller
Knuckle Bearing
Cylindrical Knuckle
Spherical Knuckle
Pin Knuckle
Leaf Knuckle
Sliding Plate Bearing

Single Roller Bearing

Multiple Roller Bearing

Linear Rocker Bearing

Cylindrical Knuckle Bearing

Point Rocker Bearing

Spherical Knuckle Bearing

Slide Plate Bearing

Elastomeric Bearing

Pin Knuckle Bearing

Pad
Pot

Elastomeric Pad Bearing

Leaf Knuckle Bearing

Elastomeric Pot Bearing

31

Metallic Bearing

Top
Plate

Rocker

Rocker Pin

D
Roller

Saddle
Plate
Lug for Roller
Bottom
Plate

Rocker cum Roller

Bearing

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Elastomeric Bearing

EXPANSION JOINT IN BRIDGE DECK

Expansion joint is a structural discontinuity in

bridge designed to permit relative movement
of bridge deck.

Maximum permissible gap in a joint is generally limited to 100 mm

for deck joints with a single opening and 80 mm (for each opening) in
deck joints with multiple opening.

Minimum gap should not be less than 20 mm in order to prevent the

transfer of forces through the debris trapped in the joint.

MOVEMENT AND TYPE

OF EXPANSION JOINTS

1.

For the movement up to 22 mm

Copper Strip Joint

2.

For the movement up to 60 mm

3.

For the movement up to 75 mm

M.S. plate and R.S. Angle

Joint
Compression Seal Joint

4.

For the movement up to 150 mm

Finger Plate Joint

5.

For the movement

Modular Compression Sealing

Joint

> 150 mm

Angle and Plate Joint

Compression Seal Joint

Copper Strip Joint

Finger Plate Joint

Modular Joint

Abutment
These are first and last supports of a bridge and they retain earth
on their backside, which serves as an approach to the bridge.
Back Wall

Wing Wall

Abutment Cap

Breast Walls

Footing
38

Types of Abutment

Gravity Type

Balancing Type

Buried Type

39

Abutment with wing wall

Pier
Intermediate supports of bridge are referred as piers

Types of Pier

Solid Type

Trestle Type

Hammer Head Type

Framed Type
Cellular Type

Pier

Pier

Pier and Abutment Caps

Blocks resting over the piers and abutments
Provides immediate bearing surface for the support of
superstructure at the pier or abutment
Disperses loads more evenly to the piers and abutments
Usually made of rich concrete and heavily reinforced

Bridge Foundation
Part, which supports superstructure and pier/abutment of
bridge and transmits total bridge loads to soil
Foundation Type

Shallow
Foundation

Bridge
Foundation

Deep
Foundation

45

Shallow Foundation

Normally shallow foundation is provided when

depth of foundation does not exceed 6m

Spread
Footing

Shallow
Foundation

Shallow/Open
Foundation

Isolated
Footing
Combined
Footing

Mat
Foundation

Deep Foundation

Normally deep foundation is provided when

depth of foundation exceeds 6m

Deep
Foundation

Pile Foundation

Well/Caisson Foundation

Pile Foundation
Foundation with piles

Well Foundation
Foundation with well

Bridge Foundation

Abutment

Well Cap

Pile Cap

Pier

Well
Piles

Pile Foundation
Elements of Pile

Pile Cap

Pile Cap

Stem
Group of Piles

Shoe

Shoe
49

Types of Pile Foundation

Friction pile
Bearing pile
Bearing cum friction pile

Vertical pile
Rake pile
Rake pile

Vertical pile

Bored pile
Driven pile

Well Foundation

52

Types of Well

Open Well

Pneumatic Well

Floating Box Well

Pier

Components of
Well Foundation

Well Cap

Top Plug
Well
Steining
Dredge Hole

Granular Filling

Well Curb
Cutting Edge

Bottom Plug

54