General Provisions for Bridge

Design and Construction

By: Jhunica Ching
Introduction to Bridges
Structural Solution Vital Link

Bridges overcome physical obstacles like rivers, They serve as a vital link in transportation and
roads, or valleys. infrastructure networks.
Design Analysis and Structural
Integrity
1 Design 2 Material
Type of Bridge: Choose the Select durable materials like
appropriate design (e.g., beam, steel, concrete, or
arch, suspension, cable- composites
stayed) based on the span,
aesthetics, and purpose.

3 Safety Features
protect users from accidents and ensure that
the bridge is safe to use in all conditions.
Bridge Location
Highway Routes Cost Minimization
Location selection based on Minimizing construction and
highway routes and the obstacle maintenance costs.
being crossed.

Environmental Impacts
Minimize disruption to local ecosystems and wildlife.
Waterway Design

Flood Debris Handling Erosion Prevention

Accommodation
Preventing debris Using rip-rap or spur
Designing for flood accumulation and dikes to protect against
events and maintaining ensuring safe passage. erosion.
natural flow patterns.
Drainage Systems
1. Prevent Water Accumulation

Effective drainage systems are essential to prevent structural damage.

• Protect Structural Integrity

• Reduce Maintenance Costs

2. Design Considerations

• Size

• Placement

• Material
BRIDGE
COMPONENTS
Reporter: Zarrar Ismail Jibz M. Collado
Superstructure,
Bearings, and
Substructure
• Structural components of bridges are based on
parametric definitions involving deck types and
various bridge properties. Bridge structures are
composed of superstructure, bearing,
superstructure, and accessories.

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SUPERSTRUCTURE

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SUPERSTRUCTURE

• Superstructure is the part of a • The superstructure may only

bridge supported by the include a few components,
bearings, including deck, such as reinforced concrete
girder, truss, etc. The deck slab in a slab bridge, or it may
directly carries traffic, while include several components,
other portions of the such as the floor beams,
superstructure bear the loads stringers, trusses, and
passing over it and transmit bracings in a truss bridge. In
them to the substructures. In suspension and cable-stayed
case, the deck was divided as bridges, components such as
a separate bridge component, suspension cables, hangers,
and the structural members stays, towers, bridge deck,
between the deck and the and the supporting structure
bearings are called as bridge comprise the superstructure
superstructure. (Taly, 1997).

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BEARINGS

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BEARINGS

• A bridge bearing is a component of a bridge

transmitting the loads received from the deck
on to the substructure and to allow controlled
movement due to temperature variation or
seismic activity and thereby reduce the stresses
involved. A bearing is the boundary between
the superstructure and the substructure.

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SUBSTRUCTURE

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SUBSTRUCTURE
• Substructure is the portion of the bridge below
the bearing, used for supporting the bridge
superstructure and transmits all those loads to
ground. In this sense, bridge substructures
include abutments, piers, wing walls, or
retaining walls, and foundation structures like
columns and piles, drilled shafts that made of
wood, masonry, stone, concrete, and steel.
Both abutments and piers are vertical
structures used for supporting the loads from
the bridges bearings or directly from the
superstructures and for transmitting the load to
the foundation. However, the abutments refer
to the supports located at beginning or end of
bridge, while the piers are the intermediate
supports. Therefore, a bridge with a single span
has only abutments at both ends, while
multispan bridges also need intermediate piers
to support the bridge superstructures

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ACCESSORY STRUCTURES

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ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
• Bridge accessories are structure members
subordinate to the main bridge structure, such
as parapets, service ducts, and track slabs.
Deadweight of accessory structures shall be
considered in the design, but their load carrying
capacities are generally ignored.

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BRIDGE LENGTH, SPAN LENGTH,
AND BRIDGE WIDTH
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BRIDGE LENGTH, SPAN
LENGTH, AND BRIDGE
WIDTH
• The distance between centers of two bearings
at supports is defined as the span length or
clear span. The distance between the end of
wing walls at either abutments or the deck lane
length for bridges without using abutments is
defined as total bridge length.

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20
BRIDGE CLEARANCE
AND
CLASSIFICATION
BRIDGE CLEARANCE

Bridge Clearance:
The vertical distance related to bridge
structures to ensure safety and
functionality.
Types of Bridge Clearance:
1.Clearance of Bridge Span
2.Clearance Above Bridge Floor

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CLEARANCE OF BRIDGE SPAN

• Measured from the water surface (or ground) to the

bridge's underside.

• Reference point: Mean Highest High Water (MHHW)

• Most conservative measurement.
• The actual clearance is often greater than
MHHW.

• Importance:
• Ensures safe passage for vessels or vehicles
below the bridge.

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CLEARANCE ABOVE BRIDGE FLOOR

• Refers to the space available for:

• Carriageways
• Sidewalks
• Importance:
• Ensures traffic safety above the bridge.
• Specified in bridge design standards.

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BRIDGE
CLASSIFICATION
OVERVIEW

Bridges can be classified

based on several criteria:
1.Materials of Construction
2.Span Length
3.Position (for Moveable
Bridges)
4.Span Types
5.Deck Location
6.Usage
7.Geometric Shape
8.Structural Form

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CLASSIFICATION BY MATERIALS
OF CONSTRUCTION

Types of Materials:
•Common Materials: Steel, concrete, timber, stone, aluminum.
•Advanced Materials: Composite materials.
•Combination of materials is common:
• Example: Reinforced concrete deck with steel girders.

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CLASSIFICATION BY SPAN LENGTH

Categories:
Short Span
Medium Span
Long Span
Super-Long Span
Considerations:

•Span lengths depend on structural form,

materials, and design techniques.

•Certain bridge types are suited for specific

span lengths.

• Example: Suspension bridges for

long spans, beam bridges for
short spans.
CLASSIFICATION BY POSITION - MOVEABLE BRIDGES

Bridges that move to allow

passage for boats or barges.

Types of Moveable Bridges:

• Bascule Bridges

• Swing Bridges

• Lift Bridges

Example:

•Tower Bridge in London

(combined suspension and
bascule bridge).

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CONCLUSION
Summary:
•Bridge Clearance:

• Ensures safety under and above the

bridge.
•Bridge Classification:

• Helps in selecting suitable designs based

on materials, span lengths, and position.
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BRIDGE ENGINEERING

20 JANUARY, 2025
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SWING BRIDGE

A swing bridge is a type of movable bridge that rotates

horizontally around a vertical axis to allow vessels to pass
through. This design is particularly advantageous in areas
where maintaining navigable waterways is essential while also
accommodating road or rail traffic.
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KEY
COMPONENTS
PIVOT POINTS SUPERSTRCUTURES & CONTROL MECHANISM
SUBSTRUCTURES

The central axis around The part of the bridge Systems used to operate
which the bridge rotates. that carries the load, the swinging motion, which
may include hydraulic or
typically consisting of a
mechanical components.
deck and supporting
girders.
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DESIGN
CONSIDERATION

• Load Capacity: The structure must support both vehicular and

pedestrian traffic loads.

• Clearance Requirements: Adequate height must be maintained

for vessels passing underneath.

• Operational Efficiency: The mechanism should allow for quick

opening and closing to minimize traffic disruptions.
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WHY CONSIDER CHALLANGES

SWING BRIDGE?
1. Navigational Clearance • Maintenance: The moving parts require
2. Space Efficiency regular inspection and maintenance to
3. Versatility in Traffic Types ensure reliability.
4. Cost-Effectiveness
5.Reduced Environmental Impact • Traffic Delays: Opening the bridge can
6. Operational Flexibility cause delays for road traffic,
necessitating careful scheduling.
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BRIDGE
CLASSIFICATION
BY INTERSPAN
RELATION

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SIMPLY SUPPORTED BRIDGES

Simply supported bridges are statically determinate structures characterized by

load-carrying members that are supported at both ends. These bridges are
particularly suitable for locations where uneven settlements of bridge foundations
may occur.
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CONTINUOUS BRIDGES

Continuous bridges are statically indeterminate structures characterized by

spans that extend over three or more supports. They are preferred in bridge
engineering due to several advantages when compared to simply supported
girder bridges.
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ADVANTAGES STRUCTURAL
• Higher Span-to-Depth Ratio
BEHAVIOR
• Increased Stiffness • Bending Moments
• Reduced Deflections
• Fewer Expansion Joints • Girder Depth
• Minimized Vibration
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BEARING DISADVANTAGES
REQUIREMENTS
Continuous bridges utilize a single • Complex Design
bearing at each pier, centrally located,
which allows for efficient load transfer • Cracking and Buckling Risks
and stability. In contrast, simply
supported bridges require two bearings • Sensitivity to Environmental Factors
per pier.
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CANTILEVER BRIDGES

Cantilever bridges are structures primarily composed of cantilevers, which are

horizontal beams supported only at one end. They can be utilized in both girder and
truss bridge designs
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KEY FEATURES OF STRUCTURAL

CANTILEVER BRIDGES DESIGN
• Foundation Suitability
• Balanced Construction
• Construction Without Falseworks
• Applications
• Larger Span Capacity
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27 December, 2024