What Bridge Is This? The Brooklyn Bridge (New York, New York) is a hybrid cable-stay and suspension bridge that was completed in 1883.
6 Types of Bridges and Their Parts
Bridges are made up of several parts, which all work together, to allow for the strongest and safest structure for the public's use. This page will break down the parts of each bridge. Please refer to the "Types of Bridges" page for a description of each bridge.
The above infographic takes a look at the Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest and most well known bridges in America, and possibly the world. The Brooklyn Bridge is a structural masterpiece and it paved the way for many more bridges. Unlike most bridges, this bridge has both a lower traffic deck and a raised pedestrian deck, which helps keep pedestrians safe, while adding a unique design feature. What makes this bridge so unique is that it is a combination of a cable stayed and suspension bridge. A cable stayed bridge has cables that run diagonally from the bridge tower, to the deck and form a triangle, giving the bridge superior strength. A suspension bridge has a main cable, with cables running vertically from it to the deck, which will hold the deck, suspending it in the air.
BEAM
Name: CSX Railroad Bridge Crossing Over Cementery Road
Type: Steel Beam Simple
Location: Hilliard, Ohio
Type: Steel Beam Simple
Location: Hilliard, Ohio
Beams: Supports the bridge deck. Beams are ran parallel to each other.
Diaphragms: A thin plate or partition, used between the beams, to provide rigidity and stiffness. Bearing Plates: Compression members that provide for movement between the beams and piers/abutments.
Deck: The deck on this bridge is used to support a railroad track.
|
Abutment: A structure sustaining one end of a bridge span and at the same time supporting the embankment which carries the track or roadway.
Wing Walls: One of the side walls of an abutment extending outward from the head wall in order to hold back the slope of an embankment. Bolts: A-325 High-Strength Bolts. Used for holding members or parts of members together.
Concrete Parapit with Aluminum Top Rail
|
TRUSS
Name: Lower Scioto Twin Bridges
Type: Twin Pratt Through Truss Railroad Bridge
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Type: Twin Pratt Through Truss Railroad Bridge
Location: Columbus, Ohio
A truss bridge is essentually a beam bridge with trusses, used for additional support. Instead of using many beams, a truss bridge uses stringers, which run laterally with the bridge, and then floor beams, which provide for the cross sectional support. Trusses use a triangular design. Triangles are the strongest shape, which helps to disperse the stress of the external loads on the bridge.
See "Try This at Home!" at bottom of page for more on trusses
ARCH
Name: Main Street Bridge
Type: Inclined, Single Ribbed, Tied Steel Arch Bridge, with Steel Box Girder Supports
Location: Columbus, Ohio. Main Street Bridge, crossing over the Scioto River, in Downtown Columbus
Type: Inclined, Single Ribbed, Tied Steel Arch Bridge, with Steel Box Girder Supports
Location: Columbus, Ohio. Main Street Bridge, crossing over the Scioto River, in Downtown Columbus
Approach View: Shows the top side of the deck: Including the roadway, cantilevered pedestrian walk and the arch.
Pier: The arch connects to the pier, providing the supports for the decks.
|
Cantilevered Pedestrian Walk: The walkway is cantilevered off of the roadway.
Pier: Provides the support for the whole structure. Arch Supports: Sinve this arch sits at a 10 degree angle, stiff supports are needed to keep the arch upright.
Suspension Cables: Suspension cables are used to support the deck. |
Cantilever Arms: These arms support the pedestrin walk, balancing it with the roadway deck. Provides the anchorage for the the suspension cables running from the arch.
CANTILEVER
A cantilever bridge is a bridge that is built using cantilevers. Cantilevers are structures that exteded out into open space, only being supported at one end. The cantilevers are built outwards on both ends of the bridge. They meet is the middle and are connected. The picture above is Benjamin Baker's human cantilever bridge model. Mr. baker is sitting in the middle of the bridge, being supported on either side by the cantilevered systems. Contilever bridges are usully made with a truss design, as to help distribut the weight across the whole bridge.
CABLE STAYED
Name: Lane Avenue Cable-Stayed Suspension Bridge
Type: Cable-Stayed
Location: Columbus, Ohio. Lane Avenue, Crossing the Olentangy River, on The Ohio State University's Campus.
Type: Cable-Stayed
Location: Columbus, Ohio. Lane Avenue, Crossing the Olentangy River, on The Ohio State University's Campus.
Deck: Contains the roadway and pedestrian walks.
Pier: Supports the bridge deck. It sits on top of the foundation and runs to the deck.
Tower: Sits on top of the pier and holds the stay cables.
Stay Cables: Diagonal cables that run from the tower to the deck, supporting the deck.
Pier: Supports the bridge deck. It sits on top of the foundation and runs to the deck.
Tower: Sits on top of the pier and holds the stay cables.
Stay Cables: Diagonal cables that run from the tower to the deck, supporting the deck.
SUSPENSION
Name: Wolfe Park Suspension Bridge
Type: Wire Suspension Bridge
Location: Columbus, Ohio. Bridge Connecting Franklin and Wolfe Parks, Crossing Over Alum Creek on the Ohio to Erie Trail
Type: Wire Suspension Bridge
Location: Columbus, Ohio. Bridge Connecting Franklin and Wolfe Parks, Crossing Over Alum Creek on the Ohio to Erie Trail
Deck: This bridge is a pedestrian walk and bike path only.
Main Cable: Cable running from one end to the other. This cable provides the support from which the bridge is suspended. Suspenders: Suspension cables running from the main cable to the deck. Turnbuckle: This provides a way to tighten the suspension cables. Over time, suspension cables will start to loosen. This could cause severe structural damage to a bridge, so there are turnbuckles on suspenders that allow for the cables to be tightened. It's up to the bridge inspectors to keep an eye on the suspension cables. This is a very simple example, on a small bridge.
|
Underside of Deck: Floor beams, used as cross bracing, which are held up by the suspenders.
Dead-Man: Provide an anchorage point for the main cables. Dead-mans are usually burried in the ground. This particular bridge was built in 1922, with the dead-mans in the ground. In 2015, the main cables snapped. The bridge was rebuilt/repaired and the engineers decided to install the dead-mans above ground, to ensure the longevity of the new bridge.
|
Tower: The tower supports the main cables.
Saddles: The saddle allows for the main cables to sit comfortably and loosely on the tower.
Saddles: The saddle allows for the main cables to sit comfortably and loosely on the tower.
PHOTO CREDITS FOR ALL PHOTOS: JACK DOWNS(Unless otherwise noted below photo)
Try This at Home!
Build your own truss
Give brief description on how this activity backs up what you just learned in this page about trusses, and how you can use this information to do this project.
Click here to build your own truss!
Build your own truss
Give brief description on how this activity backs up what you just learned in this page about trusses, and how you can use this information to do this project.
Click here to build your own truss!