CVS517E: Design of Bridges2015/2016 Academic Year

Chapter 1: Introduction

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN OF BRIDGES

1.1 General Introduction
A structure built to span and provide passage over a river, chasm, road, or
any other physical hurdle. The function required from the bridge and the
area where it is constructed decides the design of the bridge.
The first bridges were made by nature as simple as a log fallen across a
stream. The first bridges made by humans were probably spans of wooden
logs or planks and eventually stones, using a simple support and
crossbeam arrangement. Most of these early bridges could not support
heavy weights or withstand strong currents. It was these inadequacies
which led to the development of better bridges. The oldest surviving stone
bridge in China is the Zhaozhou Bridge, built from 595 to 605 AD during
the Sui Dynasty. This bridge is also historically significant as it is the
world's oldest open-spandrel stone segmental arch bridge. The first book
on bridge engineering was written by Hubert Gautier in 1716. With the
Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, truss systems of wrought iron
were developed for larger bridges, but iron did not have the tensile
strength to support large loads. With the advent of steel, which has a high
tensile strength, much larger bridges were built, many using the ideas of
Gustave Eiffel.
1.2 Definitions of terms used in bridge design
Bridge:

Bridge is a structure having a total length of above 6 m

between the inner faces of the dirt walls for carrying traffic or
other moving loads over a depression or obstruction such as
channel, road or railway. These bridges are classified as:
Short span bridge Spans between 6m to 14 m.
Medium span bridge Spans between 14m to 45 m.
Large span bridge - Total length greater than 45m
Culvert:
A cross drainage structure having total length of 6 m or less
between inner faces of dirt wall.
Foot Bridge: A bridge extensively used for carrying pedestrians, cycles
and animals.
High Level Bridge: A bridge, which carries the roadway above Highest
Flood Level (HFL) of the channel.
Submersible Bridge/ Vented Causeway: A bridge designed to be
overtopped during floods.
Channel: A natural or artificial watercourse.
Clearance:
The shortest distance between boundaries at a specified
position of bridge structure.
Freeboard:
The difference between H.F.L. (allowing afflux) and
foundation level of road embankment on approaches.

CVS 517E: Design of Bridges2015/2016 Academic Year

H.F.L.:

Chapter 1: Introduction

Highest flood level is the level of highest flood ever recorded

or the calculated level for design discharge.
Lowest flood level is the level of the water surface obtained in

L.W.L.:
dry season.
Length of Bridge: The length of a bridge structure will be taken as
overall length measured along the centre line of the bridge
between inner faces of dirt wall.
Linear Waterway: Width of waterway between the extreme edges of
water surface at H.F.L. measured at right angles to the
abutment face.
Effective Linear Waterway: The total width of the waterway of the
bridge at H.F.L. minus effective width of obstruction.
Safety Kerb: A roadway kerb for occasional use of pedestrian traffic.
Width of Carriageway: Minimum clear width measured at right angles to
the longitudinal centreline of bridge between inside faces of
roadway kerb or wheel grades.
Super elevation/ Cant/Banking: The transverse inclination given to the
c/s of a carriageway on a horizontal curve in order to reduce
the effects of centrifugal force on a moving vehicle.
Vertical clearance: The height from the design highest flood level with
afflux of the channel to the lowest point of the bridge
superstructure at the position along the bridge where
clearance is denoted.
Bearings: The part of the bridge structure which bears directly all the
forces from the structure above and transmits the same to the
supporting structure.
Sliding Bearings: A type of bearing where sliding movement is
permitted.
Abutment:
The end supports of deck of bridge, which also
retains earth, fill of approaches behind fully or partly.
Afflux:
The rise in the flood level of the river immediately on the
upstream of a bridge as a result of obstruction to natural flow
caused by the construction of bridge and its approaches.
Bearing Capacity: The supporting power of a soil / rock expressed as
bearing stress is referred to as its bearing capacity.
Safe Bearing Capacity: The maximum pressure which the soil can carry
safely without
risk of shear failure and it is equal to the net Safe Bearing
Capacity plus original overburden pressure.
Cofferdam:
A structure temporary built for the purpose of excluding
water or soil sufficiently to permit construction or proceed
without excessive pumping and to support the surrounding
ground.

CVS 517E: Design of Bridges2015/2016 Academic Year

Chapter 1: Introduction

Foundation: The part of bridge in direct contact with and transmitting

load to the founding strata.
Pier:
Intermediate supports of the superstructure of a bridge.
Abutment Pier: It is designed for a condition that even if one side arch
span collapses it would be safe. Generally provided after 3 or 5
spans in multiple span arch bridges.
Retaining Wall: A wall designed to resist the pressure of earth filling
behind.
Return Wall: A wall adjacent to abutment generally parallel to road or
flared up to increase width and raised up to the top of road.
Toe wall: A wall built at the end of the slope of earthen embankment to
prevent slipping of earth and / or pitching on embankment.
Wing Wall: A wall adjacent to abutment with its top up to R.T.L. near
abutment and sloping down up to ground level or a little above
at the other end. This is generally at 45 degrees to the
alignment of road or parallel to the river and follows the profile
of earthen banks.
Substructure: The bridge structure such as pier and abutment above the
foundation and supporting the superstructure. It shall include
returns and wing walls but exclude bearings.