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Robinson 1
the world. Without bridges travel would be a pain, taking much longer to get to places that
bridges make easily accessible. Just like all of the different obstacles that bridges are used to
cross, they also come in a wide variety, all of them unique. This is due to the fact that they are
constructed to suit the needs of what the function of the bridge is supposed to be, how long of a
One of the types of bridges is a cantilever through truss bridge. A cantilever through truss
bridge can be described as a complex version of a typical truss bridge consisting of two main
parts: the cantilever and the truss. The cantilever is a structure that horizontally extends through
space and has support at only one of its ends. When forming a bridge, for example over a
canyon, a cantilever is placed at each side of the canyon. If the canyon is too wide for the
cantilevers a truss or beam is added in between them to make the bridge longer. At the
unsupported ends of the cantilevers, the sides of the cantilever over the canyon, a truss is used to
connect the cantilevers together. A truss is framework typically made up of rafters, posts, and
struts to hold up bridges and other structures. Trusses are built in the shape of triangles because
of their strength and the configuration of trusses on a bridge can vary depending on the intended
A single span cantilever bridge has the ability to extend well over1,500 feet. Also it has
the ability to be built with little or no temporary framing. Due to the large distances it can cover,
a cantilever bridge is the bridge of choice when making a bridge to cross a river without dividing
it with numerous river piers. Although they are good to build when crossing a river, the
cantilever through truss bridge is mainly used for pedestrian, train, and motor vehicle crossings.
Bridge was known as the most prominent steel structure when it was built in Queensferry,
Scotland in 1890. It spans 521 meters between its main pillars and at the time it was built, it
remained as the longest cantilever truss bridge in the world. Shown in figure two, the Quebec
bridge in Quebec, Canada was completed in 1907 after three years . However, the bridge
collapsed in 1907 and was replaced by Pont de Quebec in 1919. To this day, it remains the
longest clear span, between its main pillars, consisting of 549 meters.
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As previously mentioned, there are many types of bridges each serving different purposes
for different geological conditions. Cantilever through truss bridges are made for pedestrian,
train, and motorized vehicle use. Beam supported bridges are the simplest type of bridge. The
name comes from the horizontal beam that is on top of two piers used for support.
As shown in figure four, when downward weight is applied to a beam bridge, the piers of
it support the bridge in compression while the bridge undergoes tension. Single beamed bridges
like the bridge shown in figure three become weaker as the distance between the piers is
increased. Most beam bridges do not exceed more than 250 feet unless they are continuous and
Arch and suspension bridges are much more different when compared to the cantilever.
The arch bridges, like those shown in figures five and six, stand and support loads because of the
compression of stones due to how they are angled. Arch bridges do not have any tension.
the piers as well as the tension from the thick cables work to support the bridge and the loads.
Cantilever through truss bridges combine aspects of each of the bridges. Like suspension
bridges, the cables on the top provide tension. Like beam bridges, the truss is also weighed down
by gravity and the mass of whatever load is traveling on it. Like arch bridges, the arches at the
bottom support the bridge in compression. Finally, as the piers in any bridge do, the piers in the
cantilever through truss bridge support the structure through compression. Gravity as well as the
mass of loads traveling across the bridge push downwards on the bridge together.
Although the beam bridge and cantilever bridge are similar, the beam bridge is made out
of a single beam supported at both ends while the cantilever is made out of two arms only
supported at one of their ends. The weight on a beam bridge, as well as gravity, cause the piers
that hold the bridge to compress. As the gravity pushes down on the beam it begins to bend
slightly and as it bends it creates tension on the supports in an outward direction. Unlike the
beam bridge the cantilever has tension working towards the bottom of the trusses gravity on the
supports, compression working towards the top of the supports from the trusses adjacent to it,
and gravity working down on the entire bridge. Arch and suspension bridges are much more
different when compared to the cantilever. The arch bridge for example, due to the way it is built
has no tension, however, the stones in each arch compress holding each other in place. In a
suspension bridge compression works on the supports and the thick cables holding up the bridge
There are several types of bridges in the world and one of the most unique has to be the
cantilever through truss bridge. The cantilever is a complex bridge with many different structures
to it like arches and cables. These bridges span over long distances because of their unique and
innovative build. It is clear that the cantilever through truss bridge has made a massive impact on
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our worlds transportation and with the new advancements in engineering and technology there's
no telling to what our generation can do for our future transportation industry.
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