Bridge Engineering

Classifications, Design Loading, and Analysis Methods

Weiwei Lin, Teruhiko Yoda

• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9780128044339
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Civil Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Bridge Engineering: Classifications, Design Loading, and Analysis Methods begins with a clear and concise exposition of theory and practice of bridge engineering, design and planning, materials and construction, loads and load distribution, and deck systems. This is followed by chapters concerning applications for bridges, such as: Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Bridges, Steel Bridges, Truss Bridges, Arch Bridges, Cable Stayed Bridges, Suspension Bridges, Bridge Piers, and Bridge Substructures. In addition, the book addresses issues commonly found in inspection, monitoring, repair, strengthening, and replacement of bridge structures.

• Includes easy to understand explanations for bridge classifications, design loading, analysis methods, and construction
• Provides an overview of international codes and standards
• Covers structural features of different types of bridges, including beam bridges, arch bridges, truss bridges, suspension bridges, and cable-stayed bridges
• Features step-by-step explanations of commonly used structural calculations along with worked out examples

Chapter One

Introduction of Bridge Engineering

Abstract

A bridge is a construction made for carrying the road traffic or other moving loads in order to pass through an obstacle or other constructions. The required passage may be for pedestrians, a road, a railway, a canal, a pipeline, etc. Obstacle can be rivers, valleys, sea channels, and other constructions, such as bridges themselves, buildings, railways, or roads, etc. Bridges are important structures in modern highway and railway transportation systems, and generally serving as “lifelines” in the social infrastructure systems. Bridge components (superstructure, bearing, substructure, etc.), bridges classification (e.g., according to materials of construction, span length, span type, deck location, usage, geometric shape, and structural form), and selection of bridge types are discussed in this chapter.

Keywords

Bridge components; Superstructure; Bearing; Substructure; Bridge classification; Movable bridges; Bridge type selection

1.1 Introduction

A bridge is a construction made for carrying the road traffic or other moving loads in order to pass through an obstacle or other constructions. The required passage may be for pedestrians, a road, a railway, a canal, a pipeline, etc. Obstacle can be rivers, valleys, sea channels, and other constructions, such as bridges themselves, buildings, railways, or roads. The covered bridge at Cambridge in Fig. 1.1 and a flyover bridge at Osaka in Fig. 1.2 are also typical bridges according to above definition. Bridges are important structures in modern highway and railway transportation systems, and generally serving as “lifelines” in the social infrastructure systems.

Fig. 1.1 The Bridge of Sighs, Cambridge, the United Kingdom. (Photo by Lin.)

Fig. 1.2 A flyover in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Lin.)

Bridge engineering is a field of engineering (particularly a significant branch of structural engineering) dealing with the surveying, plan, design, analysis, construction, management, and maintenance of bridges that support or resist loads. This variety of disciplines requires knowledge of the science and engineering of natural and man-made materials, composites, metallurgy, structural mechanics, statics, dynamics, statistics, probability theory, hydraulics, and soil science, among other topics (Khan, 2010). Similar to other structural engineers (Abrar and Masood, 2014), bridge engineers must ensure that their designs satisfy given design standard, being responsible to structural safety (i.e., bridge must not deform severely or even collapse under design static or dynamic loads) and serviceability (i.e., bridge sway that may cause discomfort to the bridge users should be avoided). Bridge engineering theory is based upon modern mechanics (rational knowledge) and empirical knowledge of different construction materials and geometric structures. Bridge engineers need to make innovative and high efficient use of financial resources, construction materials, calculation, and construction technologies to achieve these objectives.

1.2 Bridge Components

1.2.1 Superstructure, Bearings, and Substructure

Structural components of bridges are based on parametric definitions involving deck types and various bridge properties. Bridge structures are composed of superstructure, bearing, superstructure, and accessories.

(A) Superstructure
In general, the superstructure represents the portion of a bridge above the bearings, as shown in Fig. 1.3. Superstructure is the part of a bridge supported by the bearings, including deck, girder, truss, etc. The deck directly carries traffic, while other portions of the superstructure bear the loads passing over it and transmit them to the substructures. In case, the deck was divided as a separate bridge component, and the structural members between the deck and the bearings are called as bridge superstructure.
The superstructure may only include a few components, such as reinforced concrete slab in a slab bridge, or it may include several components, such as the floor beams, stringers, trusses, and bracings in a truss bridge. In suspension and cable-stayed bridges, components such as suspension cables, hangers, stays, towers, bridge deck, and the supporting structu...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• About the Authors
• Chapter One: Introduction of Bridge Engineering
• Chapter Two: Bridge Planning and Design
• Chapter Three: Materials for Bridge Constructions
• Chapter Four: Loads and Load Distribution
• Chapter Five: Bridge Deck Systems
• Chapter Six: Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Bridges
• Chapter Seven: Steel Bridges
• Chapter Eight: Truss Bridges
• Chapter Nine: Arch Bridges
• Chapter Ten: Cable-Stayed Bridges
• Chapter Eleven: Suspension Bridges
• Chapter Twelve: Bridge Bearings and Substructures
• Chapter Thirteen: Inspection, Monitoring, and Assessment
• Chapter Fourteen: Repair, Strengthening, and Replacement
• Index