Bridge :

A bridge is a structure which is built over some physical obstacle such as a body
of water, valley, or road, and its purpose is to provide crossing over that
obstacle. It is built to be strong enough to safely support its own weight as well
as the weight of anything that should pass over it.
A bridge is a structure carrying a roadway, pathway, railway, etc. across a
river, or other obstacles. A bridge is built so that people or vehicles can cross
from one side to the other.
Bridge Engineering A bridge is a structure providing passage over an
obstacle without closing the way beneath. The required passage may be for a road, a
railway, pedestrians, a canal or a pipeline. The obstacle to be crossed may be a river, a
road, railway or a valley.
Classification of Bridges

Classification of Bridges (According to form (or) type of superstructures)

1. Slab bridge
2. Beam bridge
3. Truss bridge
4. Arch bridge
5. Cable stayed (or )suspended bridge
 Classification of bridges (According to material of construction of
superstructure)
1. Timber bridge
2. Concrete bridge
3. Stone  bridge
4. R.C.C bridge
5. Steel bridge
6. P.C.C bridge
7. Composite bridge
8. Aluminum bridge
 Classification of bridges (According to inter-span relationship)
1. Simply supported bridge
2. Cantilever  bridge
3. Continuous  bridge
 Classification of bridges (According to the position of the bridge floor
relative to superstructures)
1. Deck through bridge
2. Half through or suspension  bridge
 Classification according to method of connection of different part of
superstructures
 1. Pinned connection  bridge
2. Riveted connection  bridge
3. Welded connection  bridge
weather resistant steel
According to length of bridge
1. Culvert  bridge(less than 6 m)
2. Minor bridge(less than 6 m-60m)
3. Major bridge(more than 60 m)
4. Long span bridge(more than 120 m)
According to function
1. Aqueduct bridge(canal over a river)
2. Viaduct(road or railway over a valley or river)
3. Pedestrian bridge
4. Highway bridge
5. Railway bridge
6. Road-cum-rail or pipe line bridge

A bridge is a structure carrying a roadway, pathway, railway, etc. across a river,

or other obstacles. A bridge is built so that people or vehicles can cross from
one side to the other.

There are different types of bridges depending upon the specific physical and

design scope requirements. In this article, we will discuss the components and
parts of bridge.
 Components Of Bridge
The various parts and components of a bridge are as follows:-est Things You
Can Do for Your Yard This Fall
1. Deck
2. Superstructure
3. Substructure
4. Foundation
5. Girder or beam
6. Bridge tower
7. Pier
8. Pier cap
9. Bearings
10.Piles
11.Pile cap
12.Bridge anchor
13.Suspension cable
Let us learn each component of a bridge in detail below.

1. Deck :- Deck is the portion that carries all the traffic.

2. Superstructure :- The portion supports the deck slab and girder and
connects one sub-structure to the other. That means all the elements of the
bridge attached to a supporting system can be categorized as superstructure.

3. Sub-structure :- The parts of the bridge which support the superstructure

and transmit all the structural loads of the bridge to the foundations. For
example, piers, abutments, etc.

4. Foundation :- Foundation is the portion that transmits loads to the bearing

strata. Foundation is required to support the piers, bridge towers, and portal
frames. Generally, piles and well foundations such as H-pile, bore piles, pipe
piles, or precast concrete piles are adopted.

5. Girder Or Beam :- The beam or girder is the part of the superstructure

which bends along the span. The deck is supported by beams.

6. Bridge :- Tower is the vertical supporting part used for cable-stayed or

suspension bridges. High-strength concrete and Insitu method are adopted to
construct the bridge tower.

Cable-stayed bridge
7. Pier :- Pier is the part of the substructure that supports the superstructure and
transfers loads of superstructure to the foundations. Pier is suitable for spanned
bridges with a maximum width of deck up to 8 m (2 traffic lanes).
The shape and size of the pier mainly depend on aesthetics, site, space, and
economic constraints of the construction. Usually, bridge pier is constructed by
in situ method with large panel formwork.

8. Pier Cap :-Pier cap is the topmost part of a pier that transfers loads from the
superstructure to the pier. It is also known as headstock. It provides sufficient
seating for the girders and distributes the loads from the bearings to the piers.

9. Bearings:- Bearing is a device which supports the parts of superstructure and

transfers loads and movements from the deck to the substructure and
foundation.
The main purpose of providing a bearing is to permit controlled movement and
decrease the stress involved.

10. Pile & Pile Cap :-Pile is a slender member driven into the surrounding soil
to resist the loads. Pile cap is a thick reinforced concrete slab cast on top of the
group piles to distribute loads.

11. Bridge Anchor :-Bridge anchor is only used in suspension and cable-stayed
bridges to resist the pull from suspension cable or counter span of the bridge.

12. Suspension Cable :-It is used in suspension and cable-stayed bridges for
the hanging, supporting and counter balancing of the bridge deck.

Bridge ::- A bridge is a structure which is built over some physical obstacle
such as a body of water, valley, or road, and its purpose is to provide crossing
over that obstacle. It is built to be strong enough to safely support its own
weight as well as the weight of anything that should pass over it.

Footing
 As bearings transfer the superstructure loads to the substructure, so in
turn do the abutment and pier footings transfer loads from the
substructure to the subsoil or piles.
 A footing supported by soil without piles is called a spread footing.
 A footing supported by piles is known as a pile cap.

Piles.
 When the soil under a footing cannot provide adequate support for the
substructure (in terms of bearing capacity, overall stability, or
settlement), support is obtained through the use of piles, which extend
down from the footing to a stronger soil layer or to bedrock.
1‐Deck and 2‐ Stringer 3‐Bearing
4‐ Pedestal 5‐Footing 6‐Piles
7‐ Underpass 8‐Embakment 9‐ Live Loading
 Beam & Slab Decks
 A beam and slab deck is one where the beams may deflect somewhat independently,
and any transverse forces are carried in the deck.
A cellular deck  is one where a number of thin slabs and webs will enclose cells within the
deck.
A boxgirder deck  is one where the deck forms the top of the box girder during analysis.

What is a cellular deck?

Cellular metal deck is normal metal decking that has a flat piece of steel welded to the
bottom of the panel. It's available as a roof or floor deck for both acoustical and non-
acoustical decking applications.
.
What is a beam deck?
In deck construction, a girder (or a beam) is a board or a composite of more than one
board that serves as a supporting structure for the deck joists, which meet it
perpendicularly. Girders are like a frame for the joists. Likewise, a large deck may need
extra support in the middle.

What are the loading standards of bridges?

IRC Class A Loading

This type of loading is used in the design of all permanent bridges. It is considered as
standard live load of bridge. When we design a bridge using class AA type loading, then it
must be checked for class A loading also.

What is slab deck?

A slab deck is one where the deck is analyzed as a plate. If the slab has a stiffness that is
different in two directions (at right angles), then the deck is known and analyzed as an
orthotropic deck.

what is beam and slab deck in bridge

A beam deck is one where the deck and any supporting structure act together as a single
beam. A grid deck uses beams and diaphragms as the supporting structure. The supporting
system of a grid deck is analyzed using a grillage analysis. A slab deck is one where the deck
is analyzed as a plate.
what is cellular deck in bridge
. A beam and slab deck is one where the beams may deflect somewhat independently, and
any transverse forces are carried in the deck. A cellular deck is one where a number of thin
slabs and webs will enclose cells within the deck. A boxgirder deck is one where the deck
forms the top of the box girder during analysis
standard specification for bridges
There are many standard specifications that are used for bridges based on the type of bridge,
location, and usage. Following are some of the commonly used specifications:

1. AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges: It is a widely used set of

specifications for highway bridges in the United States. These specifications cover everything
from design and materials to construction and maintenance.

2. Eurocode: This is a set of European standards for structural design that covers a wide range
of structures including bridges. It provides guidelines for the design, construction, and
maintenance of bridges.

3. ISO 9001: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed a
standard regarding quality management systems for the design, development, and production
of bridges. Many countries follow this standard to ensure the quality of their bridge
infrastructure.

4. ASTM International Standards: This is a set of standards developed by the American

Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) that covers various aspects of bridge design and
construction.

5. IRC: Indian Roads Congress (IRC) has developed a set of guidelines for the design,
construction, and maintenance of bridges in India.

6. BS EN 1992: This is a British standard for the design of reinforced and prestressed
concrete structures, which includes bridge design.

7. CSA S6: The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has developed a set of standards for
the design and construction of bridges in Canada.

These specifications cover a wide range of parameters such as load capacity, safety factors,
durability, and serviceability. They also provide guidelines on materials like concrete, steel,
timber, and composites, ensuring that bridges are designed and constructed to meet specific
demands.
IRC loadings for road bridges,
IRC Class 70R Loading: This loading is to be normally adopted on all roads on which
permanent bridges and culverts are constructed. Bridges designed for Class 70R Loading
should be checked for Class A Loading also as under certain conditions, heavier stresses may
occur under Class A Loading.
IRC loadings for road bridges
The IRC recommends different types of loadings that should be considered based on the type
of bridge and its location. The following are some of the commonly used IRC loadings for
road bridges:
1. Dead Load: This is the permanent weight of the structure itself, including the weight of the
bridge deck, beams, columns, and other components.

2. Live Load: This is the weight of the vehicles, pedestrians, and other dynamic loads that
pass over the bridge.

3. Impact Load: This is the additional load that results from the impact of moving vehicles,
and it is calculated as a percentage of the live load.

4. Wind Load: This is the lateral force exerted by the wind on the bridge, and it is calculated
based on the wind speed and other factors.

5. Seismic Load: This is the horizontal force that results from earthquakes or other seismic
events.

6. Temperature Load: This is the thermal expansion and contraction of the bridge due to
changes in temperature.

IRC also provides guidelines for the design of foundations, piers, and abutments, as well as
for the use of various materials and construction techniques. These guidelines are based on
the latest research and best practices in the field of bridge engineering.
loading standards for railway bridges
The loading standards for railway bridges are specified in various codes and guidelines,
including:

1. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

specifications: AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications provide guidelines for the
design of railway bridges, including loading standards.

2. Eurocode 1: Eurocode 1 provides guidelines for the design of railway bridges in Europe,
including loading standards.

3. Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC): The CHBDC provides guidelines for
the design of railway bridges in Canada, including loading standards.

4. Indian Railways Code for the Design of Railway Bridges (IRC): The IRC provides
guidelines for the design of railway bridges in India, including loading standards.

Loading standards for railway bridges include factors such as axle loads, train speeds, and
expected traffic volume. The loading standards are designed to ensure that the bridge can
safely support the weight of the trains passing over it without any structural damage or
failure.

structural forms of bridge decks

1. Slab Bridge Deck: This is the simplest form of bridge deck, consisting of a flat slab of
reinforced concrete or steel that spans between the abutments or piers.

2. T-Beam Bridge Deck: This type of bridge deck is similar to the slab deck, but with
the addition of transverse beams that create a T-shape. The beams provide additional
strength and stability to the deck.

3. Box Girder Bridge Deck: This is a more complex form of bridge deck, consisting
of a hollow box-shaped structure made of reinforced concrete or steel. Box girder
decks are ideal for long-span bridges because they offer superior strength and
structural stiffness.

4. Arch Bridge Deck: An arch bridge deck is built into the arch, which supports the
weight of the bridge deck. These decks can be made of reinforced concrete, masonry
or steel.

5. Cable-Stayed Bridge Deck: In a cable-stayed bridge deck, cables attached to towers

support and hold up the deck. These decks are typically used for long-span bridges
where the deck needs to be thin and light.

6. Suspension Bridge Deck: A suspension bridge deck is held up by large cables that
run over towers at either end of the span. The deck is suspended from these cables by
smaller cables or chains. The longest spans and most iconic bridges in the world are
suspension bridges.