1.

Arch bridges –

Arch bridges have abutments at each end. The weight of the bridge is thrust into the abutments at either side. The
earliest known arch bridges were built by the Greeks. These bridges uses arch as a main structural component (arch is
always located below the bridge, never above it). They are made with one or more hinges, depending of what kind of
load and stress forces they must endure.
The arch bridge has great natural strength. Thousands of years ago, Romans built arches out of stone. Today, most
arch bridges are made of steel or concrete, and they can span up to 800 feet. They are often chosen for their strength
and appearance.
Forces: the compressive forces created by the load are transferred down through the arch and resisted by the supports,
or abutments, at its base. Abutment support prevents the arch spreading under load. Advantages: they are very strong
and can be built from a wide range of materials.
Disadvantages: limited spans unless multiple arches (or viaducts) are used and uneconomical use of materials.

Tied arch bridges – Tied arch bridges have an arch-shaped superstructure, but differ from conventional arch bridges.
Instead of transferring the weight of the bridge and traffic loads into thrust forces into the abutments, the ends of the
arches are restrained by tension in the bottom chord of the structure. These are similar to arch bridges, but they
transfer weight of the bridge and traffic load to the top chord that is connected to the bottom cords in bridge
foundation. They are often called bowstring arches or bowstring bridges.

MAIN COMPONENTS OF AN ARCH BRIDGE

• ARCH RIB
The arch rib is the main structural member of the arch and is responsible for carrying the different loads
generated in the structure. The arch ribs are commonly built using reinforced concrete or steel, but new
innovative materials have been used for the arch ribs, including concrete-filled steel tubular, high-performance
concrete, steel concrete composites, etc.

• ABUTMENTS/SUPPORTS
The abutments/supports are one of the most important components of arch bridges because most of the loads
carried by the arch rib are transmitted into the abutments. Therefore, the abutments must be heavy and large
enough to carry the horizontal thrust from the arch.
 • HANGERS AND SPANDRELS
The deck can be supported by spandrels on top of the arch rib suspended by vertical hangers. For deck arch
bridges, solid spandrel walls can be placed on top of the arch rib to support the bridge deck.

2. The truss bridge consists of an assembly of triangles. Truss bridges are commonly made from a series of
straight, steel bars.

Rigid arms extend from both sides of two piers. Diagonal steel tubes, projecting from the top and bottom of each pier,
hold the arms in place. The arms that project toward the middle are only supported on one side, like really strong
diving boards. These "diving boards," called cantilever arms, support a third, central span.

(1). Truss:

A truss is a systematically interconnected group of steel or iron bars and rods, which are
interdependent on one another in order to create strength and turgidity in the skeleton
of the truss. The elements of a truss are joined in a triangular shape. The connected
elements either give tension or compression, as a result of the load and burden of the
bridge and truss itself. There are several types of elements are used in truss-like beams
four parallel beams of truss, struts, bracings, sway bracings, lateral bracings, and portal
struts and bracings. All these elements are either compressive or tensile or both in duty.

(2). Stringers:

Stingers, in a truss bridge, are used instead of beams in beam-bridges. The stringers of
the bridge are firmly jointed with the lower beams of the truss, in such a way that the
stringers of the bridge is hung with the stringers of the truss. Stringers, generally, are
two or more than two in number. These stringers are attached to Floor beams. The deck
of the bridges is placed or constructed on the floor beams. The floor beams are not
parallel to the Stringers, but rather cross-sectional.

(3). Floor Beams:

A number of short length beams which connect the main stringers at different points.
The purposed of the floor beams is to survive the load of a deck of the bridge. The deck
can be made of different types of elements, like metallic plates, metallic hollow plates,
panels made up of precast concrete and RCC.

(4). Deck of the Bridge:

The purpose of the deck of the bridge is to accommodate the traffic. The deck of the
bridge is made of concrete or metallic slabs. It is the main span of the bridges. It is
installed on the floor beams horizontally.

(5). Piers/ Abutments:

Piers also called abutments and pillars of the bridge. The piers are either precast or
constructed within the water body with the help of caissons or cofferdams.

COMMON TYPES OF TRUSS BRIDGE

Truss Bridges are structures built up by jointing together lengths of material to form an open framework - based mainly
on triangles because of their rigidity. They are very strong and can support heavy loads.
Forces: As with a Beam Bridge the top of a loaded truss is placed in compression and bottom in tension. These forces
are shared among the angled members.
Advantages: They are very strong and make efficient use of materials.
Disadantages: They are more complex to construct and need a high level of maintenance.

3. Cantilever bridges are based on structures that project horizontally into space, supported at only one end - like a
spring board.
Forces: if two cantilevers project out from a central pier the forces are balanced.
Advantages: more easily constructed at difficult crossings by virtue of using little or no falsework. Disadvantages:
complex structures and can be difficult to maintain.

The main span is divided into Suspended arm and two cantilever arms. The anchor span is
the anchor arm, which is attached to the counterweight and provides statbility to the cantilevers on
both sides of the bridge. Furthermore, Truss based cantilever bridges are complex structures with
many different components together making the gist of the entire edifice. Some of the components of
the bridge are as follows:
1. · Vertical posts
2. · Floor beams
3. · End floor beams
4. · Lateral beams
 5. · Slab deck
6. · Bracings
7. · Diagonals
8. · Lateral bracings
9. · Stringers
10. · Portal bracings

4. Suspension bridges main elements are a pair of main suspension cables stretching over two towers and attached at
each end to an anchor buried deep in the ground. Smaller vertical suspender cables are attached to the main cables to
support the deck below.
Forces: any load applied to the bridge is transformed into a tension in the main cables which have to be firmly
anchored to resist it.
Advantages: strong and can span long distances such as across rivers.
Disadvantages: expensive and complex to build.

5. Cable-stayed bridges may appear to be similar to suspension bridges, but in fact they are quite different in
principle and in their construction. There are two major classes of cable-stayed bridges: Fan type, which are the
most efficient, and Harp or parallel type, which allow more space for the fixings.
Forces: As traffic pushes down on the roadway, the cables, to which the roadway is attached, transfer the load to the
towers, putting them in compression. Tension is constantly acting on the cables, which are stretched because they are
attached to the roadway.
Advantages: good for medium spans, greater stiffness than the suspension bridge, can be constructed by cantilevering
out from the tower, horizontal forces balance so large ground anchorages are not required.
Disadvantages: typically more expensive than other types of bridge, except suspension bridges.

Types of Bridges by use :

 Car Traffic bridge– The most common type of bridge, with two or more lanes designed to carry car and
truck traffic of various intensities.
 Pedestrian bridge – Usually made in urban environments, or in terrain where car transport is inaccessible
(rough mountainous terrain, forests, etc.).
 Double-decked bridge– Built to provide best possible flow of traffic across bodies of water or rough terrain.
Most offen they have large amount of car lanes, and sometimes have dedicated area for train tracks.
 Train bridges – Bridges made specifically to carry one or multiple lane of train tracks.
 Pipelines – Bridges made to carry pipelines across water or inaccessible terrains. Pipelines can carry water,
air, gas and communication cables.
 Viaducts – A viaduct is made up of multiple bridges connected into one longer structure. Ancient
structures created to carry water from water rich areas to dry cities.
 Commercial bridges – Modern bridges that host commercial buildings such as restaurants and shops.