DESIGN EXERCISE

Design Exercise

Design Exercise

Beam Bridges Materials

With the advancement in technology, the materials science has also advanced considerably. Beam bridges materials being used are strong, light, and durable. The advanced materials for bridge construction have good operational characteristics. Such materials include reformulated concrete, composite materials that are reinforced with fiber, steel, and pre-stressed materials. Pre-stressed concrete is well suited for beam bridges construction since it can endure excessive compressive stresses. Steel rods are fixed in the concrete that can bear the tensile loads. Furthermore, pre-stressed concrete is cheaper. The current techniques include use of finite element analysis to improve the design of beam bridges. Distribution of stresses on different bridge elements is analyzed to ensure strong beam bridges that can endure the bridge loads. The beams should be held by piers at the ends to increase the bridge load bearing capacity. Concrete, steel, or stones are normally used for the construction of piers. Since stones and non-reinforced concrete are weak in tension, they are normally used for beam bridges that are designed for lighter loads.

Bridge Construction Planning

Bridge construction tends to involve huge projects that encompass the utilization of skills related to several engineering disciplines including geology, civil, electrical, mechanical, and computer sciences. Therefore, integrating the efforts of all involved must be meticulous. The initial plans are prepared regarding the project, including the characteristics of the desired bridge, the site details, and the requirement of resources. The bridge design will be determined by the type of bridge being constructed. The main types of the bridges are beam, arch, truss, cantilever, and suspension. The beam bridge is one of the popular types. Bridges can also be categorized by the planned use, like road and rail bridge, pedestrian pavement, material to be used like steel or concrete, and fixed or moveable. Moveable bridges are ...