CE 417

Design of Bridges ( 2 units)

INTRODUCTION
M R . G A B R I E L M K E YA KA S O L E

D E PA RT M E N T O F C I V I L E N G I N E E R I N G

A R D H I U N I V E R S I T Y.
 Course Expected Learning
Outcome

At the end of this course, students are

expected to be able to:
Design and detail bridge structures;
Assess the behavior of the bridge regime.
Course contents & Time table

COURSE CONTENTS WEEK/DATE

Introduction to bridges:
 Types of bridges
 Criteria for selection of bridges
 Bridge components
 Design codes
Principles for selection of site
and level of the bridge:
 Site geology,
 river characteristics,
 road approach,
 hydraulics and
 hydrological factors.
Course contents & Time table

COURSE CONTENTS WEEK/DATE

Load analysis:
 Types of loads - imposed,
permanent, wind, earthquake;
hydraulic forces.
 Computation of each type of
load.
Design of the Superstructure
Delivery mode & Assessment

1. Delivery mode: 30 hours lectures and 30

hours tutorials(Monday, R-44: 07:30-09:30H
and Thursday, R-46:13:00-15:00H).
2. Assessment mode:
Coursework (2 Tests @ 10% and 2
Assignments@5%) -30%.
Final Examination(UE) - 70%.
 1.Introduction to Bridges

1.1 DEFINITION OF A BRIDGE

1.2 FUNCTION OF BRIDGE
1.3 TYPES OF BRIDGES
1.4 SELECTION OF BRIDGES
1.5 BRIDGE COMPONENTS
1.6 BRIDGE CODES
 1.1 What is a bridge?
 A bridge is a structure that spans a divide.
 These includes; streams, rivers, valleys, railroad track,
roadway, waterway.
 The traffic that uses a bridge may include; Pedestrian or
cycle traffic, Vehicular or rail traffic, Water/gas pipes.
 It is a key element in transportation system as it
controls both volumes and weight of the traffic.
 It is also expensive element in transportation system
 1.2 Function of a Bridge
 A bridge is designed to carry a service ( which
may be highway or railway traffic, footpath,
public utilities etc.) over an obstacle ( which
may be another road or railway, a river, a valley,
a stream, etc.) and to transfer the loads from the
service to the foundations at ground level.
 1.3 Types of Bridges

1.3.1 Types by kinds of traffic

1.3.2 Types by traffic position
1.3.3 Types by Material and Fabrications
1.3.4 Types by structural system
1.3.5 Types by span length
 1.3.1 Types by kind of traffic
Highway bridge (trucks, cars)
Pedestrian bridge (pedestrians, bicycles)
Railway bridge (trains)
Transit guideway (city trains)
Other types (pipelines, utilities, industrial,
aqueduct, airport structure)
1.3.1 Types by kind of traffic(Highway bridges)

Nyerere Bridge

Selander Bridge
1.3.1 Types by kind of traffic(Highway bridges)
1.3.1 Types by kind of traffic(Pedestrian bridges)
1.3.1 Types by kind of traffic(Railway bridges)
1.3.1 Types by kind of traffic(Others)
1.3.1 Types by kind of traffic(Others)
 1.3.2 Types by traffic position
 Deck type
- Structural components under the deck
- Preferred by drivers (can clearly see the view)
- Requires space under the bridge
 Through type
-Structural components above the deck
- Obstructed view (not a problem for railway bridge)
- No structure under the bridge
 Half-through type
1.3.2 Types by traffic position
(Deck type)
1.3.2 Types by traffic position
(Through type)
1.3.2 Types by traffic position
(Half-Through type)
1.3.3 Types by Material & Fabrications

Materials Fabrications
 Masonry (brick, rock)  Precast (RC/PC)
 Timber  Cast-in-place(RC/PC)
 Reinforced Concrete (RC)
 Pretensioned(PC)
 Prestressed Concrete (PC)
 Posttensioned (PC)
 Iron
 Steel
 Prefabricated(steel)
 Aluminium  Rivet(steel)
 Composites  Bolted(steel/timber)
 plastics,  Welded(steel)
 Etc…  Ect…
1.3.3 Types by materials & fabrication
 1.3.4 Types of Bridge by Structure

Arch
Beam
Cantilever
Cable-Stayed
Suspension
Others
 1.3.4 Types of Bridge by Structure
(Prestressed Concrete Arch Bridge)
 1.3.4 Types of Bridge by Structure
(Beam/Girder Bridges)
The most basic type
of bridge
Typically consists of a
beam simply
supported on each
side by a pier and can
be made continuous
later.
Typically inexpensive
to build.
 1.3.4 Types of Bridge by Structure
(Beam/Girder Bridges)
Currently, most of the
beam bridges are
precast(in case of RC
and PC) or
prefabricated.
Most are simply-
supported.
Some are made
continuous on site.
1.3.4 Types of Bridge by Structure
(Beam/Girder Bridges)
1.3.4 Types of Bridge by Structure
(Cable-Stayed Bridges)

Nyerere Bridge
1.3.4 Types of Bridge by Structure
(Cable-Stayed Bridges)

Selander Bridge-
Tanzania
 1.3.4 Types of Bridge by Structure
(Suspension Bridges)

Suspension bridge
needs to have very
strong main cables.
Cables are anchored
at the abutment.
Abutment has to be
very massive
1.3.4 Types of Bridge by Structure
(Suspension Bridges)
1.3.5 Types of Bridge by Span Length
1.4 Criteria for selection of Bridges

1.4.1 Geological conditions

1.4.2 Road approach characteristics
1.4.3 Hydrological data
 1.4.1 Geological conditions
 The foundation soil on the site determines type of abutments
and piers to be used such as spread footing, driven piles or
drilled shafts.
 The potential for seismic activity at a site should also be a part
of the subsurface investigation. If seismicity is high, the
substructure details will change, affecting the superstructure
loads as well.
 Drainage conditions below the ground influence the magnitude
of earth pressure and stability of cut or fill.
 1.4.2 Road approach characteristics
 The bridges are designed to carry present and future
volumes of traffic.
 Dictates the no. of lanes, need for side walks or bike
paths, whether width of a bridge include medians,
drainage of surface runoff and wearing surface.
 1.4.3 Hydrological data

 River characteristics influences the dimensions of the

bridges.
 These bridge dimensions include height of bridge
piers, abutments etc.
 The bridge must continue to function during periods of
high water and not impose severe constriction to flow
of water or debris.
 1.5 Bridge components

Superstructure
 Any structures above bearing which
support the roadway (deck, beams/girders,)
Substructure
 Foundation(pile/spread footing)
 Pier (column)
 Abutment
 Bearing
 Wing wall
1.5 Bridge components Cont’d
 1.5.1 Deck
 Part of bridge to which live loads applied and transmit
to members below it
 .Provides a smooth and safe riding surface for traffic
utilizing the bridge.
 Materials commonly used are timber, concrete or
steel.
 Wearing course is applied on top to protect it from
weathering agents and effects of vehicular traffic
 1.5.1 Deck
Cross sections of bridge superstructures known as
“Shallow Superstructures”
 1.5.2 Beams/Girders
 Mainly consists of floor system and main supporting
members.
 Floor system may consists of longitudinal (main)
girders. Cross girders (stringers) or diaphragms
 Transmit loads to the substructure.
 1.5.3 Bearings
 Provides an interface between superstructure and substructure.
 Functions:
i. Transmit loads to the substructure
ii. Permit longitudinal movements of superstructure due to
thermal expansion and contraction
iii. Allow for rotation of the beams or bridge girders.
 Bearings can be fixed (do not allow translational movement)
or expansion (allow both displacement and rotation)
 Types of bearing are sliding plate, roller, rocker, elastomaric
etc.
 1.5.4 Abutments

 An abutment is a structure located at the end of the bridge for the

following functions:
i. Supporting the bridge deck at the ends
ii. Retaining the approach road embankment
iii. Connecting the approach road to the bridge deck
 There are various types of abutments, some of the commonly

used ones are given in the following sub-sections:

 1.5.4 Abutments Cont’d
(a) Mass concrete or Stone masonry abutment
 The mass concrete type of abutment depends on its mass for

stability and carrying and transmitting loads from the

superstructure to the foundation.

 This is simple to construct but expensive due to large

quantity of concrete which has to be used.

 Mass concrete type of abutment is used for walls up to 3

metres height. In this case the settlement of embankment

should be considered in relation to the abutment.

1.5.4 Abutments Cont’d
D irt w a ll

B rid g e S e a t

B re a s t w a ll

R iv e r b e d

(a) Mass concrete or Stone masonry abutment

 1.5.4 Abutments Cont’d
(b) Reinforced T-Abutment
 Reinforced T-abutment
is slender structure
and has a large heel
and a small toe.
 This is a reinforced
concrete structure.
 Reinforced T-
abutment is the most
common form of
abutment used
 1.5.4 Abutments Cont’d
(c) Counterfort Abutment
Abutments with counter -fort
are used only for very tall
walls of more than10 to 20
metres.
Compaction of the fill is
difficult due to the presence
of counter-forts
 1.5.4 Abutments Cont’d
(c) Cellular abutments
Cellular abutments have
cells which can allow
drainage of water. These
types of abutments are
expensive
 1.5.4 Abutments Cont’d
(e) Abutment on fill
 Costs of construction and materials may be reduced for deep
foundation by using a small abutment on a filled
excavation foundation pit.
(f) Sloping abutments
 Sloping abutments are used where the upper part of the
bridge is less wider than the bottom part or simply for
aesthetic reasons. The drawback is that the sloping
abutment wall has to be supported by props during
construction.
(g) Diaphragm abutments
 Diaphragm abutments are sheet piles which are driven into
the ground. The piles support the embankment, and the
cantilever action is helped by anchors and ground beams.
The benefit of diaphragm abutments is that they can be
constructed much more quickly than most other types such
as concrete abutments.
 Recommendations for abutments on highly
compressible strata

 Build the embankments well in advance of the bridge so

that all movement occur before proceeding with bridge
construction
 Use lightweight materials for deck and substructures
 Design accommodating vertical and horizontal movements
 Allow for uniform bearing pressure under the footing to
avoid uneven settlement
 Piles are preferable
 Bouyant foundation may be used with large voids
 Use abutments with longer heels
 Rest the foundation on a cofferdam filed with good soil or
concrete
 Separate the abutment and the backfill by use f gravel at
the interface.
 1.5.5 Wing walls

General
Wing walls depend on topography of site,
construction restrictions and construction
sequence.
The base of the wing walls is usually the
same level as the base of the abutment
 1.5.5 Wing walls Cont’d
(a) Wing walls
parallel to abutment.
Simplest to build
Uses more materials
Can be monolithic to
abutment
Backfill can be
properly compacted
 1.5.5 Wing walls Cont’d
(b) Wing walls at an
angle to the abutment
Use less material
 1.5.5 Wing walls Cont’d
(c) Wing walls
parallel to over road
 Uses more materials
 No proper compaction
of backfill is achieved
 When structurally
attached to the
abutment they provide
more stability as of a
box structure
 1.5.5 Wing walls Cont’d

(d) Cantilever wing walls parallel to over road

 Difficult to compact properly as material flows

underneath
(e) Double wing walls
 Two sets of wing walls are used

• Used for high embankments

• One set is a return wall

• The other set is parallel or angled wing wall

 1.5.6 Piers
Provide intermediate supports.
Types of piers are solid shaft pier, column
pier, Hammerhead pier. Pier

Abutments
 1.6 Design codes
Design codes are collection of work description upon
which there is a mutual agreement of the most
experienced group of people based upon their
practical and theoretical knowledge.
Design codes results into economical and quality
bridge structures.
In this course, design bridge code which is going to
be used is BS 5400.