Bridge Engineering

What is Bridge?
A bridge is a structure that spans horizontally between supports and is used to carry vertical loads. Even though the prototypical bridge is quite simple—two supports holding up a beam—even in this simplified form, every bridge has achieved engineering challenges. The supports must be strong enough to support the structure, and the span between the supports must be strong enough to support the loads. Long spans are justified when good foundations are scarce, such as over estuaries with deep water and generally kept as short as possible

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What is Bridge Abutment?
The bridge abutment is crucial at the bridge’s end, supporting the bridge’s superstructure. It also links to the ground-level road and supports the bridge via the abutment. The infill material supports the bridge path.

The location of the site and the function of the need determine which abutment is utilized in the bridge. Abutment comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. The use of an abutment is determined by the cost and type of the abutment concerning the site location.

Fig 1: Bridge Abutment
Courtesy: terre-armee.com

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A cantilever bridge comprises structures that protrude horizontally into space and are only supported on one end. A cantilever is something like a balcony that protrudes from a building. The cantilevers on small footbridges may be simple beams; however, major cantilever bridges designed to handle road or rail traffic require structural steel trusses or prestressed concrete box girders. The steel truss cantilever bridge was a great engineering accomplishment initially implemented. It can span over 460 meters (1,500 feet) and be built more simply at challenging crossings due to the lack of falsework (temporary supports). The Hassfurt Bridge spans the Main River in Germany and has a central span of 38 meters (124 feet), considered the first contemporary cantilever bridge.

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Introduction
Bridges can be basic structures or massive, awe-inspiring pieces of art – or everything in between. A bridge serves a single purpose as long as it transports us across a gap that would otherwise be difficult (or even impossible) to cross. Bridges have played a significant part in developing our earliest civilizations, the diffusion of knowledge, local and global trade, and the emergence of transportation during the previous several thousand years.

Initially made out of most simple materials and designs, bridges soon evolved and enabled the carrying of wide deckings and spanning of large distances over rivers, gorges, inaccessible terrain, enormously elevated surfaces and pre-built city infrastructures. Starting with the 13th century BC Greek Bronze Age, arched stone bridges quickly spread worldwide, eventually leading to the rise of steel, iron and other materials in bridges that can span kilometres.

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By
Shubham Sunil Malu

ABSTRACT
Suspension means to suspend something as system of spring and shock absorbers which supports vehicles on its wheels and make it more comfortable to write. In likely suspended bridge is a bridge which is suspended from cables running between the towers. We have discussed here how the bridge works and the force accounted in the bridge due to various load acting on it like wind, water, moving vehicles.
Here we discus the construction sequence in suspension bridge & have discussed the disaster in Tacoma narrow bridge in detail.

1.0 INTRODUCTION
“Suspension bridge is one where cables or ropes or chains are stung across the obstacle & the deck is suspended from these cables”

Anatomy of a Bridge

Deck –  For pedestrian, train, and / or automobile traffic.
Supports – The towers are the supports.
Span – Describes the distance between towers.
Foundations – The supports rest on the foundations.
Approaches – The approaches are the roads leading up to the bridge.
Long wire cables – are strung over the towers and secured to the anchors on land.
Hangers – run from the cables to the deck hold it up.

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