How Bridges Work Module Outline
History of Bridge Construction
Brooklyn Bridge
 When was it built?
 What type of bridge is it?
 What distance did it span?
 Why is it an important bridge? What makes it special?
John Roebling
 What were his ideas/contributions to bridge engineering? (quite a few things)
Bridge Movement
Elasticity, or the __________________ of a bridge, is important because if it’s not moving it’s _________________.
WHY is elasticity important for a bridge?
Future Bridges
What is a Smart Bridge?
Why would smart bridges be beneficial?
What materials will we see used in bridges in the future? Why have we not seen them used yet?
Cable Stay Bridge Design
What happened in Tampa Bay in May of 1980?
How many people died?
How many times had this bridge been hit by sea vessels?
What mistake did the original engineers of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge make?
What kind of bridge was the original Sunshine Skyway Bridge? (you’ll have to look at the video and research what kind
it is – they do not mention it)
The NEW cable-stayed Sunshine Skyway Bridge was greatly improved because of what four main changes?
Bridge Infrastructure
What’s wrong with the Williamsburg Bridge in New York City? (list as many items as you can)
Would YOU drive over the Williamsburg Bridge?
On average, about how many bridges in the U.S. suffer partial or total collapse EACH YEAR?
What is the approximate annual cost of repairing structural problems in bridges?
What is the problem with solutions currently used to maintain and protect bridges?
Tacoma Narrows Bridge & Page 11
Discuss the importance of the George Washington Bridge.
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge
 Where is it located?
 In what year did it open?
 What was its nickname?
 When did it fall?
 Why did it fall?
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It was supposed to withstand winds of _______mph, but how fast was the wind blowing when it fell?
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It is similar to a singer doing what?
What mistakes did the engineers make in its design?
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What improvements were made to account for the mistakes when it was rebuilt?
Bridge Designs
What are the four main things engineers must consider when deciding on a bridge design?
Seismic Retrofitting & The Loma Prieta Earthquake (last video)
What happened during the earthquake that caused the Bay Bridge to fall?
How many pounds of force do engineers estimate caused the damage?
How strong was the earthquake?
Underwater Bridge Inspection
What do inspectors/divers look for?
Demolition of a Bridge (really fun to watch)
How long did it take to remove the old Sunshine Skyway Bridge?
How many tons of steel had to be destroyed?
What is the nickname for bridge demolition?
Bridge Regulatory Inspection
Why did the Silver Bridge in West Virginia collapse?
How many people died?
How did this catastrophe help to improve bridge maintenance?
How often do bridges have to be examined?
Page 12 – Weather
Describe ways in which weather damages bridges and list important things to consider about the effects of
weather.
Look up “prestressed concrete.” What is it and why is it used?