Bridging the Bridge
Brought to you by:
Maria Peloro and
Christine Sniffen
Historical Facts
Example of Bridge Types
• There are 6 main bridges that are used
today. The most important bridges are
as follows: girder, arch, truss, cable
stayed, rigid frame, and suspension
bridges...
Girder
• A girder bridge is the most simple and
most common bridge in existence. A
log across a bank to a bank over a
river is an example of a girder bridge.
Arch
Arch bridges are the second most
common bridges, and also being the
oldest bridges, these bridges are well
known. Most arch bridges are made of
stone because they were made long
ago. ‘Arches use a curved structure
which provides a high resistance to
bending forces. Unlike girder and truss
bridges, both ends of an arch are fixed
in the horizontal direction.’
Truss
• The truss bridge can also be called a
skeletal structure; these bridges live up
to its name. ‘Trusses are comprised of
many small beams that together can
support a large amount of weight and
span great distances.’
Cable Stayed
• ‘A typical cable stayed bridge is a
continuous girder with one or more
towers erected above piers in the
middle of the span.’ This sums up a
cable stayed bridge. From the title,
‘cable’, the brige is suspended by
cables attatched from two towers
supporting the main bridge. The only
problem with this bridge is that it is
victimized by the wind.
Rigid Frame
• ‘In a standard girder bridge, the girder
and the piers are separate structures.
However, a rigid frame bridge is one in
which the piers and girder are one
solid structure.’ Rigid frame bridges are
very efficient, but require a ton of
materials. There are usually two stories
to these bridges, separated by steel on
steel.
Suspension
Real Bridges
The view shows the old London Bridge
in an adapted form. (1890’s)
Links
• http://www.historyworld.net/images/imagepopu
p.asp?No5=113&Id5=xacd
• http://www.wikinfo.org/upload/e/ee/OldLondon
BridgeSmall.jpg
• http://www.matsuobridge.co.jp/english/bridges/basics/cablestay.sht
m
• http://www.matsuobridge.co.jp/english/bridges/basics/girder.shtm
• http://www.matsuobridge.co.jp/english/bridges/basics/truss.shtm
• http://www.matsuobridge.co.jp/english/bridges/basics/arch.shtm