A Crash Course in Bridge Design

 Simple garden bridges are an excellent addition to any yard. Nevertheless, there are many more complex kinds of bridges. If you want to learn more about bridges, this is the article for you.

According to Matsuo Bridge, there are six basic types of bridges. These kinds include girder bridges, truss bridges, rigid frame bridges, arch bridges, cable-stayed bridges, and suspension bridges.

A girder bridge is the least complex and most popular type of bridge. There are two basic kinds: the I-beam girder and the box girder.

Box girders have two vertical webs connecting two horizontal flanges on both sides. The I-beam girder is made in the shape of the letter I with one web connecting two flanges in the middle.

The truss is a simple skeletal structure. Trusses are made up of many small beams that connect in geometric patterns to hold a large amount of weight and cross long distances. There are several different types of trusses, which vary based on the shape of the supports.

Rigid frame bridges are sometimes also known as the Rahmen bridge. What differentiates the rigid frame bridge from the other types is that it is made from one solid structure. Both the supports and the girder of the bridge are connected.

Arch bridges make use of a curved structure to provide high resistance to bending forces. Both ends of the arch are horizontally fixed so that when a load is placed on the bridge, the bearings of the arch create a horizontal force. This feature is unique to the arch bridge.

Cable-stayed bridges are composed of a continuous girder with one or more towers erected above piers in the center of the span. From these towers, cables stretch down diagonally to both sides of the bridge, holding up the girder.

Most cable-stayed bridges use steel cables, as they are very strong but sensitive at the same time. Designers need to take the wind and the span of the bridge into consideration when deciding if a cable-stayed bridge is safe to use for the crossing.

The final type of bridge is the suspension bridge. Of all the types of bridges in use today, the suspension bridge can cover the longest distance.

The standard suspension bridge is a continuous girder with towers built above piers in the middle of the span, just like the cable-stayed bridge. Counterweights or large anchors are placed at both ends of the bridge to hold the ends of the cables.

These main cables are extended from one anchor over the top of the tower and fastened to the opposite anchor. The cables pass over a special structure called the saddle, which lets the cables glide as loads cart from one side or the other and to easily transport the load from the cables to the tower.

 This introduction is just grazing the surface of the wide world of bridge design. There are many more details that go into designing a bridge. Luckily, you don't have to be an expert in bridge design to enjoy a garden bridge in your backyard.