Classification/ various types of Bridges
Definition:-
• Bridges are defined as structures, which
provide a connection or passage over a Gap
providing blocking the opening or passageway
beneath.
• The Bridge crossing Carrying a road or Railway
over another Road or Railway is called Grade
Separator or Flyover. When they are used for
Carriage of water, they are called Aqueducts.
1
CLASSIFICATION OF BRIDGES
Main Classification - Sub-classification
i) Function - Foot, Road, Railway, Pipe line, Aqueduct, Jetty
ii) Material- Stone, Brick, Timber, Steel, Concrete, Composite, Fibre,
Aluminum.
iii) Form- Slab, Beam, Arch, Truss, Suspension, Cable supported
iv) Type of support- Simply supported, Continuous, Cantilever.
v) Position of Floor/Deck- Deck, Through, Semi- through
vi) Usage- Temporary, Permanent
vii) With reference to Water Level- Causeway, Submersible, High level
viii) Grade Separators- Road-over, Road Under( Sub-way), Fly over( Ror)
ix) W.r.t Connections ( Type of Joining) – Pin-jointed, Riveted, Bolted,
Welded
x) Movable Bridges ( Over navigation Channel)- Bascule, Lifting, Swing
xi) Temporary Bridges- Pontoon, Bailey, Callonder -Hamilton, Light Alloy
allow portable Bridges developed by the Army
2
VARIOUS TYPES OF EXISTING BRIDGES
• Timber & Stone Masonry Bridges- Example – Old
Bridge over River Siene in Paris.
• Iron & Steel Bridges- Example-Famous Golden gate
bridge at San Francisco ( 2.7 Km)
• Reinforced Concrete Bridges- Example DumDm Bridge
at Kolkata built in 1926.
• Pre-stressed Concrete Bridges- Ganga Bridge at Patna
longest ( 5.57 Km).
• Cable Stayed Bridges- Famous pre-stressed Cable
Stayed Bridge is Second Vivekananda Bridge (880m)
over Hooghly River near Kolkata; World Tallest &
Longest Bridge ( 2.46 Km) is at France
3
Basic Forms of Bridge Structures
There are 6 basic forms of bridge structures:
i) Beam Bridges:- Carries vertical loads by flexure. The
truss bridge of simple span behaves like a beam ,
because it carries vertical loads by bending. Top cords are
in compression; & the bottom cords in tension, while
vertical & diagonal members either in tension or
compression, depending on their orientation.
ii) Truss Bridges:- Loads are carried primarily by
compression.
iii) Arch Bridges:- Loads carried primarily by compression,
with reactions at supports being both vertical &
horizontal forces. 4
Basic Forms of Bridge Structures
( Contd)
iv) Cantilever Bridge :- Normally consists of three Spans, of which
outer spans, known as Anchor spans, anchored down to Shore &
these cantilever over the channel. A suspended span rested at ends
of two cantilever & acts as simply supported beam or truss.
Cantilevers carry their loads by tension in upper chords &
compression in lower chords.
v) Suspension bridge:- Carries vertical loads from the deck through
curved cable in tension. These loads transferred to the around
through towers & through anchorages.
vi) Cable Stayed Bridges:- Vertical loads on the Deck carried by the
nearly straight inclined cables, which are in tension. The tower
transfers cable forces to foundation through vertical compression.
Tensile forces in stay cables induce horizontal compression in the
Deck.
5
COMPONENTS OF A BRIDGE
The main parts of a Bridge structure are:
i) Decking, consisting of deck slab, girders, trusses etc.
ii) Bearing for the Decking
iii) Abutments & Piers
iv) Foundations for the Abutments
v) River training works like revetment for slope for
embankment at abutments and Apron's at River bed level
vi) Approaches to the Bridge to connect the Bridge proper to
the roads on either side.
vii) Handrails, parapets & Guard stones.
Components above level of bearings grouped as Superstructure
& below as Sub-structure; The portion below bed level of river
Bridge called Foundation.
