Al-Mustansiriyah University Assist. Prof. Awadh E.

Ajeel
College of Engineering 4th Year Stage
Highway & Transportation Eng. Dept. Structural Analysis of Concrete Bridges
Lecture Notes Subject Code: 506064031
Introduction to Bridge Engineering
Define of Bridge
A bridge is a construction made for carrying the road traffic or other moving loads in order
to pass through an obstacle or other constructions. As well as the interchanging to diminish the
congestion delay at busy traffic intersections instead of using optical signals. Thus, the bridge is
the key element in a transportation system.

Types of Bridges
Bridges can be classified according to its own properties into:
• Purpose of construction (pedestrian, highway, railway)
• Materials of construction (wood, stone, brick, reinforced concrete, steel)
• Chance of use (temporarily, permanent, military)
• Length of span (short [6 - 39] m, medium [40 - 125] m, long [> 125] m)
• Method of supporting (simple, cantilever, continuous)
• Structural design of superstructure (slab, beam, arch, truss, cable-stayed, suspension)

Typical Span Length for Various Types of Superstructures

Structural Type of Bridge Material of Construction Range of Spans (m)
Slab Concrete 6 – 12
Concrete 12 – 300
Beam
Steel 30 – 300
Concrete 90 – 420
Arch
Steel 240 – 550
Truss Steel 90 – 550
Cable Stayed Steel 90 – 1100
Suspension Steel 300 – 2000

L L L L

wL2/10
wL2/16
wL2/11
wL2/8
Simply Supported Span Continuous Span

L L L L L L L L

wL2/2
wL2/8
wL2/8 w(L2/8 L2/2)
Series of Simply Supported Spans Gerber (Cantilever) Span

“A bridge is a monument to mankind's indomitable will to achieve. Bridges symbolize the ideals and aspirations of humanity”.
D. B. Steinman and S. R. Watson
Bridges and Their Builders, Putman, New York, 1957
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 Al-Mustansiriyah University Assist. Prof. Awadh E. Ajeel
College of Engineering 4th Year Stage
Highway & Transportation Eng. Dept. Structural Analysis of Concrete Bridges
Lecture Notes Subject Code: 506064031
Introduction to Bridge Engineering

(Elevation)

(Section)
Slab Bridge

(Elevation)

(Section)
Beam Bridge
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 Al-Mustansiriyah University Assist. Prof. Awadh E. Ajeel
College of Engineering 4th Year Stage
Highway & Transportation Eng. Dept. Structural Analysis of Concrete Bridges
Lecture Notes Subject Code: 506064031
Introduction to Bridge Engineering

Arch Bridge

Truss Bridge

Cable Stayed Bridge

Suspension Bridge
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 Al-Mustansiriyah University Assist. Prof. Awadh E. Ajeel
College of Engineering 4th Year Stage
Highway & Transportation Eng. Dept. Structural Analysis of Concrete Bridges
Lecture Notes Subject Code: 506064031
Introduction to Bridge Engineering
Components of Beam Bridges
Especially, for beam bridge type, the following components can be appeared:
• Superstructure: the upper visible part of the bridge and contains the roadway (carriageway)
to transfer the moving loads above physical obstacle or traffic congestion. It consists of:
• Slab (Deck)
• Main Beams (Girders)
• Transverse Beams (Diaphragms).
• Substructure: the supporting system to transfer the superstructure loads as well its own
weight plus external loads affecting it into the soil. It consists of:
• Abutments
• Columns (Piers)
• Foundation (Spread Footings, Piles).
• Bearings: the vibration isolators at contact areas between superstructure and substructure.
• Expansion Joints: the controlling system to eliminate thermal strains effects from the deck.

Expansion
Joint
$ $
Superstructure

Motorpool Warehouse Treasurer

Pier

Substructure

Spread
Footing

Piles

Typical Components of Beam Bridges

Typical Bearing System of Bridges

Typical Expansion Joints of Bridges

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