In this present era, the industry is moving towards the technology (mechanized) for the construction of bridges because it saves the cost of labor, shortens the project duration, and improves the quality of work as well.
Entire families of bridges, viz: launched bridges, the span-by-span bridges, and the balanced cantilever bridges are all construction methods. Another type of method is the full-span, which is employed in high-speed railway projects. So far we discussed how useful the bridge construction is. Now, we will study different types of bridge constructions in the article.
Types of Bridge Construction
The types of bridge construction are:
Bay Bridge construction
Golden gate bridge construction
Tappan Zee bridge construction
BU bridge construction
George Washington bridge construction
Brooklyn Bridge Construction
Now, let’s discuss these one-by-one:
Bay Bridge Construction
The San-Francisco-Oakland bay bridge is also known as the bay bridge locally.
It is a cantilever bridge situated in San Francisco, California, United States.
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This bridge is a part of interstate 80 and acts as a direct road between San Francisco and Oakland. It is a complex of all the bridges traversing the San Francisco Bay in California.
The Below Table Lists the Specialty of the Bay Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge Construction
The Golden Gate Bridge is situated in San Francisco, California, United States. It is a suspension bridge that covers the Golden Gate, the one-mile-wide strait which connects San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
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The golden gate bridge construction started on 5th January 1933 and on 27th May 1937 and the construction ended on 19th April 1937.
The Below Table Lists the Attributes of the Golden Gate Bridge
Tappan Zee Bridge Construction
The Zee bridge was named after Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee, that is why it is also known as Tappan Zee Bridge or simply the Zee bridge is a cantilever bridge, situated in the city of New York, United States of America. The working on this bridge started in March 1952 and the construction got over and opened to the public on 15th December 1955.
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The address of the Zee bridge is Tarrytown, New York - 10591, and this bridge crosses the Hudson River at one of its widest points and 25 miles north of Midtown Manhattan, from Grand View-on-Hudson to Tarrytown, so basically it is located at Tarrytown, Grand view-on-Hudson, South Nyack.
Brooklyn Bridge Construction
Brooklyn Bridge is a cable-stayed suspension bridge situated in the city of New York, United States. It covers the East River linking the boroughs (a town/district belonging to the administrative unit) of Manhattan & Brooklyn.
This bridge was opened to the public on 24th May 1883 and carries a daily traffic of 105,679 (as of 2016 statistics).
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The Below Table Lists All About the Brooklyn Bridge
George Washington Bridge Construction
George Washington Bridge Construction is the first-ever built cable-stayed bridge in the United Kingdom. The construction of this bridge began in the year 1962 and was opened to the public on 9th April 1964.
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The Table Below Lists All About the George Washington Bridge
BU Bridge Construction
BU bridge is also called Boston University. Previously, it was called the Cottage Farm bridge. BU Bridge is a steel bridge, which binds through an arch bridge with a suspended deck carrying Route 2, extended over the Charles River, which connects the Boston University campus to Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
Below is the image of the Bu Bridge and Grand Junction Railroad bridge from the Boston side view of the upstream:
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The Below Table Lists All About the Bu Bridge
FAQs on Bridge Construction
1. What are the main types of bridges, and what are their basic structural principles?
Bridges are primarily classified by their structure and how they manage forces. The main types include:
- Beam Bridges: The simplest type, supported by piers at each end. They are best for short distances.
- Arch Bridges: These use a curved arch as the primary support. The load is transferred outwards along the curve to abutments at each end.
- Truss Bridges: Made of a framework of connected triangles, which efficiently distribute the load and manage both tension and compression.
- Suspension Bridges: Designed for long spans, these feature a deck hung from large vertical cables, which are attached to two or more towers and anchored at both ends.
- Cable-Stayed Bridges: Similar to suspension bridges, but the cables connect directly from the tower to the deck in a fan-like pattern.
2. What are the essential components that make up a bridge?
While designs vary, most bridges share several key components:
- Foundation: The base structure that transfers the bridge's load to the ground, including footings and piles.
- Substructure: The parts that support the main span, such as piers (intermediate supports) and abutments (end supports).
- Superstructure: The part of the bridge that vehicles and pedestrians travel on. It includes the deck (the roadway), girders (or beams), and trusses that directly support the deck.
3. What is the general step-by-step process for constructing a bridge?
Bridge construction is a complex process that follows several key phases:
- Planning and Design: Engineers survey the site, analyse soil and environmental conditions, and create detailed blueprints based on the required span and load capacity.
- Foundation Construction: The groundwork is laid by building deep foundations (like piles or caissons) to provide a stable base.
- Substructure Assembly: Piers and abutments are constructed on top of the foundation to support the main structure.
- Superstructure Erection: The main span, including girders, trusses, and the deck, is assembled and placed onto the substructure.
- Finishing Touches: The final roadway surface is paved, and safety features like railings, lighting, and expansion joints are installed.
4. How do the physics principles of tension and compression work in different bridge designs?
All bridge designs are an exercise in managing two fundamental forces: tension (a pulling or stretching force) and compression (a pushing or squeezing force).
- In an arch bridge, the load's force creates compression along the curve of the arch, which is transferred to the abutments.
- In a suspension bridge, the deck's weight pulls down on the vertical cables (tension), transferring this force to the main suspension cables and then to the towers (compression) and anchors (tension).
- A simple beam bridge experiences both; the top edge is in compression, and the bottom edge is in tension.
5. Why are certain bridge types chosen for specific locations or purposes?
The choice of bridge type is not random; it depends on several critical factors:
- Span Length: Beam bridges are suitable for short spans, while suspension and cable-stayed bridges are necessary for long spans over wide rivers or bays.
- Ground Conditions: The stability of the soil and bedrock determines what kind of foundation and abutments can be built, favouring certain designs over others. For instance, solid rock is ideal for anchoring an arch bridge.
- Load Requirements: The amount and type of traffic (e.g., heavy freight trains vs. light passenger cars) dictate the strength and design required.
- Environmental Factors: In areas prone to high winds or earthquakes, designs like suspension bridges are engineered to be more flexible and resilient.
6. What is Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) and what are its advantages?
Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) is an innovative approach where large components of a bridge are built off-site in a controlled environment. These prefabricated elements are then transported to the location and rapidly assembled. The primary advantage is a significant reduction in on-site construction time, which minimises traffic disruption, improves worker safety, and can often lead to higher quality, more durable components.
7. How does resonance affect a bridge, and how do engineers prevent it?
Resonance is a dangerous physical phenomenon where an external force (like rhythmic wind or marching soldiers) matches the natural frequency of the bridge, causing the vibrations to amplify dramatically and potentially lead to structural failure. Engineers prevent this by:
- Designing for Stiffness: Making the structure rigid enough so its natural frequency is far from any expected external frequencies.
- Installing Dampers: Incorporating devices called dampers (similar to a car's shock absorbers) that absorb vibrational energy and dissipate it as heat, preventing oscillations from growing.
