1) Importance of Bridges and how their design is different from that of

regular buildings
Bridges are structures made over a gap to connect land on either side. In many cases
bridges may be the only connection between two settlements. Bridges provide access
to remote areas to transport human and goods, promoting business opportunities. In
many cases, they also serve reducing the transportation costs cutting down the length
of travel from one place to another. Hence Bridges are very important structures.
There are a few differences in various aspects related to the planning and execution of
bridges and those of buildings
a) Funds for Construction
Bridges, generally, are part of infrastructure development of a region and are
constructed out of public funds by the government. Consideration is given for all
possibilities in future due to increase in traffic due to population growth and
development of the area.
The buildings , on the other hand, may be promoted by private builders though there
are a few public amenities built by the Government. The funds required for the
construction are spent by individuals or private agencies.
b) Exposure conditions
Bridges are generally exposed to the severe conditions of rain, heat, snow, corrosion,
alternate wet and dry conditions. The buildings, only the external parts are exposed to
severe conditions and internal parts are well protected.
c) Spans
Most of the Bridges consist of long spans of construction to reduce
intermediate tall supports and to facilitate unrestricted navigation and flow of
water below them. This has given rise to extensive deployment of prestressing technology and use of cables. In Buildings , such long spans may
not be necessary and optimization may be done by reducing the spans, though
in some exceptional cases slabs are pre-stressed to reduce their depths.
d) Life span
Bridges need to be built for their trouble free service for long duration , more
than 100 years, with possibilities of extension of width. The buildings are
designed for a predetermined service life, say 50-60 years.
e) Importance factor
While assessing the loads due to Earthquake, winds or any natural calamity ,
bridges being essential service structures, the important factors considered are
higher than those for the regular buildings.
f) Loads and Loading standards

Bridges are subjected to moving vehicular loads. Hence sufficient

consideration has to be given for the critical positions of the loads and the
impact effects. Buildings are generally not subjected to moving loads, except
in parking lots and industrial buildings. The loads considered are expected to
be uniformly distributed. The loading standards, Codes of practice for the
bridges are different from those for general construction of buildings in most
of the countries. In India, the codes of practice for bridges are developed by
Indian Roads Congress and those for the general construction are governed by
the Bureau of Indian Standards, though there are inter-dependent clauses.
g) Strategic nature
Bridges are of great strategic importance in terms of connectivity. During a
war, if a bridge is destroyed, it affects the reach of the troops and connectivity.
Hence, importance is given for its security and strength for possible movement
of heavy artillery vehicles and trucks. Many important bridges are also
designed to sustain the loads of blasts.
h) Supporting Structures
The supporting structures like piers , abutments need to be designed for
possible collision forces due to an unexpected collision of Ships/Boats/
Floating trees and drag forces due to flow of water. The regular buildings are
normally not designed for such forces.
2)
What are the factors affecting the selection of type of bridge ?
Hint:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)
n)
o)

Length of bridge
Span of a segment
Type of traffic
Nature of river and the depth of river
Sub-Soil Conditions at the site
The looks of the bridge
Availability of Materials
Funds available
Expected life of bridge (Temporary or permanent)
Time available for Construction
Accessibility of the bridge site
Facilities available during construction
High flood level at the site and clearance requirements
Width of the bridge and possibility of Extension of the width
The navigation under the bridge during construction

T Beam Bridges.

3) Purpose and necessity of cross beams in Tee beam bridges

a) Cross beams cast monolithically with the slab and the longitudinal beams
reduce the design spans of slabs and help reduction in the thickness of
deck slab and the self weight of the bridge, saving the overall cost.
b) Cross beams impart rigidity and stiffness to the bridge
c) They reduce the possibility of lateral buckling of compression flange of
longitudinal beams
d) At the time of construction of the bridge, they help maintain the spacing of
the longitudinal beams.
e) Cross beams prevent probable side sway of deep longitudinal beams.
f) Crossbeams help the group action of longitudinal beams in sharing the
moving loads, through participation. These prevent separation of one
longitudinal beam from the rest , when excessive load acts on it.
g) Cross beams help in distributing lateral forces ( Centrifugal forces of
curved bridges, wind forces, seismic forces, etc. ) among the longitudinal
beams. They promote diaphragm action.