INTRODUCTION TO

BRIDGE
ENGINEERING
Bridge

 A structure spanning physical

obstacles and providing passage
over body of water, valley or road

 Typically made of:

1. Concrete
2. Steel
3. Wood
 Parts of a Bridge

1. Superstructure
- Girders
- Diaphragms
- Deck slab

2. Substructure
- Coping
- Pier
- Abutment
- Foundation
Superstructure

CONCRETE
DECK
Superstructure

EXPANSION
JOINT
Superstructure

INTERIOR
DIAPHRAG
M

MAIN
GIRDER
Shear Block

SHEAR BLOCK

PEDESTAL

COPING
Substructure

COPING

COLUM
N
Substructure

COPING

SOLID SHAFT

FOOTING
 Types of Bridges (Material Type)

I. CONCRETE

1. Flat slab Bridge

2. Reinforced Concrete Deck Girder Bridge (RCDG)

3. Pre-stressed Concrete Girder Bridge (PSCG)

Flat Slab Bridge

 Reinforced concrete slab extending in two

directions and supported directly by
concrete columns

 Span lengths
- typically ranging from 4m - 12m
Concrete Beam Bridges

1. Reinforced Concrete Deck Girder

Bridge

2. Pre-stressed Concrete Girder Bridge

 GIRDER
- a horizontal main supporting beam
commonly used in bridge construction
Reinforced Concrete Deck Girder

 Reinforced concrete girders used as main

support of the deck slab

 Span lengths
- typically ranging from 10m - 30m
Pre-stressed Concrete Girder

 Reinforced concrete girder with pre-

stressing tendons

 Span lengths
- up to 40m and
50m for modified
I-girders
Types of Bridges (Material Type)

II. STEEL

1. Steel Truss Bridge

2. Arch Bridge

3. Steel Plate Girder

4. Steel Box Girder

Steel Truss Bridge

 Span lengths
- typically ranging from 40m – 130m
 Structural behavior
Compression Stress
Arch Bridge

 A curved structural member spanning an

opening serving as a support for the
roadway loads

 Types of Arch Bridges

1. Through-arch
2. Tied-arch
 Arch Bridge

 Structural behavior of an arch bridge

  Load  
Load

 
 
 
 

Compression stress

 
 
 
 

Compression
stress

 
Horizontal reaction Tension stress
 

     
 

Vertical reaction
Vertical reaction

THROUGH ARCH TIED ARCH

Types of Bridges
(According to System of Design)

1. Simple Spans

2. Continuous Spans

3. Cable-stayed Bridge – spans from 70m and over

4. Suspension Bridge - spans from 70m and over

Single Span Bridge
Three Span Bridge

 For LONG BRIDGES,

superstructure needs to have
more than a support at each end

 Extra supports are called PIERS

Cable-stayed Bridge

 Cables are suspended diagonally from

the tower to the bridge girder

 Types of cable-stayed bridge:

1. Harp Design  

2. Fan Design  

 
Suspension Bridge

 Deck is hung below main suspension

cables by hanger ropes

 Suspension cables are suspended

between towers and have a group of
parallel wires bundled together to
support the stiffening girders/trusses
BRIDGE TYPE (STRUCTURAL)

CABLE STAYED SUSPENSION

 STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR

Vertical load
 

 
     

 
 

 
Tension stress   Tension stress  
Tension stress
 

 
 

Vertical load
 
 

   

 
 
 

 
 

     
 
 
 
 

Compression load

CABLE STAYED VS. SUSPENSION

ABUTMENT

Left Wingwall
Right Wingwall

Bridge Approach Expansion Joint

Girder

Backwall / Main structure

Scour/Bank Protection
Foundation
Water Level
Water Level
Abutment

1. Abutment on spread 2. Abutment on piles

foundation
Types of Abutments
PIER

Expansion Joint

Bearing
Column Water Level

Scour Protection

Foundation
Classification of Pier

1. Pile Bent 2. Solid Wall

Table 2.1 Comparative Table of Pier Types
Table 2.1 Comparative Table of Pier Types
Pier Type HAMMER HEAD COLUMN BENT PILE BENT SOLID WALL SINGLE COLUMN
Pier Type HAMMER HEAD COLUMN BENT PILE BENT SOLID WALL SINGLE COLUMN

Profile
Profile

* Attractive and occupies a * Provides very atractive * Pile bent piers are * Often used at water * This type of pier occupies
* Attractive and occupies a * Provides very atractive * Pile bent piers are * Often used at water * This type of pier occupies minimum space, therefore solution for moderate extreamly popular in marina crossings, since they can be a minimal amount of space.
minimum space, therefore solution for moderate extreamly popular in marina crossings, since they can be a minimal amount of space. providing room for underpass clearance structures with environments where multiple, constructed to proportions
providing room for underpass clearance structures with environments where multiple, constructed to proportions traffic. plenty of room for underpass simple span structure cross that are both slender and * Extreamly attractive when
traffic. plenty of room for underpass simple span structure cross that are both slender and * Extreamly attractive when traffic. relatively shallow water streamlined. These features combined with prestressed
traffic. relatively shallow water streamlined. These features combined with prestressed * Offers a solution which channels. provide minimal resistance to concrete box type
* Offers a solution which channels. provide minimal resistance to concrete box type Advantages provides for open & free- flood flows. superstructures by providing
provides for open & free- flood flows. superstructures by providing flowing look, especially in * Represent an economical an open and free-flowing
Advantages
flowing look, especially in * Represent an economical an open and free-flowing high traffic multiple structure solution for many bridges. appearance to traffic.
high traffic multiple structure solution for many bridges. appearance to traffic. environments.
environments.

* Not suitable for locating on * In urban interchanges, * Some maintenance * Not desirable to be utilized
thort clearances. however, extensive use of problems generally on excessively wide
* Not suitable for locating on * In urban interchanges, * Some maintenance * Not desirable to be utilized
column bent piers can lead associated with this type of superstructures.
thort clearances. however, extensive use of problems generally on excessively wide
* Not suitable for locating on to a cluttered image pier, such as deterioration of
column bent piers can lead associated with this type of superstructures.
stream. producing a "concrete exposed piles, impact with * Not desirable on thhe
* Not suitable for locating on to a cluttered image pier, such as deterioration of
jungle" effect. marine traffic and skewed river current.
stream. producing a "concrete exposed piles, impact with * Not desirable on thhe
Disadvantages accumulation of debris.
jungle" effect. marine traffic and skewed river current.
* Not suitable for locating on
Disadvantages accumulation of debris.
stream. * Vulnerable to heavy
* Not suitable for locating on
scouring during flashfloods.
stream. * Vulnerable to heavy
scouring during flashfloods.
Classification of Pier

3. Pier Type
Single Column 4. Multi-Column
Table 2.1 Comparative Table of Pier Types
Table 2.1 Comparative Table of Pier Types
Pier Type HAMMER HEAD COLUMN BENT PILE BENT SOLID WALL SINGLE COLUMN
Pier Type HAMMER HEAD COLUMN BENT PILE BENT SOLID WALL SINGLE COLUMN

Profile
Profile

* Attractive and occupies a * Provides very atractive * Pile bent piers are * Often used at water * This type of pier occupies
* Attractive and occupies a * Provides very atractive * Pile bent piers are * Often used at water * This type of pier occupies
minimum space, therefore solution for moderate extreamly popular in marina crossings, since they can be a minimal amount of space.
minimum space, therefore solution for moderate extreamly popular in marina crossings, since they can be a minimal amount of space.
providing room for underpass clearance structures with environments where multiple, constructed to proportions
providing room for underpass clearance structures with environments where multiple, constructed to proportions
traffic. plenty of room for underpass simple span structure cross that are both slender and * Extreamly attractive when traffic. plenty of room for underpass simple span structure cross that are both slender and * Extreamly attractive when
traffic. relatively shallow water streamlined. These features combined with prestressed traffic. relatively shallow water streamlined. These features combined with prestressed
* Offers a solution which channels. provide minimal resistance to concrete box type * Offers a solution which channels. provide minimal resistance to concrete box type
provides for open & free- flood flows. superstructures by providing Advantages provides for open & free- flood flows. superstructures by providing
Advantages
flowing look, especially in * Represent an economical an open and free-flowing flowing look, especially in * Represent an economical an open and free-flowing
high traffic multiple structure solution for many bridges. appearance to traffic. high traffic multiple structure solution for many bridges. appearance to traffic.
environments. environments.

* Not suitable for locating on * In urban interchanges, * Some maintenance * Not desirable to be utilized * Not suitable for locating on * In urban interchanges, * Some maintenance * Not desirable to be utilized
thort clearances. however, extensive use of problems generally on excessively wide thort clearances. however, extensive use of problems generally on excessively wide
column bent piers can lead associated with this type of superstructures. column bent piers can lead associated with this type of superstructures.
* Not suitable for locating on to a cluttered image pier, such as deterioration of * Not suitable for locating on to a cluttered image pier, such as deterioration of
stream. producing a "concrete exposed piles, impact with * Not desirable on thhe stream. producing a "concrete exposed piles, impact with * Not desirable on thhe
jungle" effect. marine traffic and skewed river current. jungle" effect. marine traffic and skewed river current.
Disadvantages accumulation of debris. Disadvantages accumulation of debris.
* Not suitable for locating on * Not suitable for locating on
stream. * Vulnerable to heavy stream. * Vulnerable to heavy
scouring during flashfloods. scouring during flashfloods.
Bearings and Joints

 If the superstructure is free to move at both ends, the whole superstructure could
fall off its bearings.
 To avoid this, usually one end of a span is fixed to the abutment or pier and the
other end is free to move
 Expansion Joints

1. Steel plate / angles 2. Rubber

THANK YOU!