CEBU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY
Cebu City

College of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Civil Engineering

CETS463
PROFESSIONAL COURSE – SPECIALIZED 2

ACTIVITY: RESEARCH WORK

September 1, 2022

SUBMITTED TO:

Engr. Raul G. Lumarda

SUBMITTED BY:

Gerald Paul L. Sumagpao

BSCE – 4
 I. DEFINE BRIDGE PROJECT AND COMPONENTS
Bridge Project –designing and constructing a Bridge to span a given distance while supporting a
maximum load using minimum materials.
There are 3 major components of a bridge
Substructure
Superstructure
Adjoining structure

1. Substructure
The substructure of a bridge is the component that supports the superstructure and distributes
the load to the bridge footings and foundation. They consist of piers, abutments, and wing walls
all of which facilitate the process of transmitting the weight of the load to the earth.
The components involved in the substructure of bridges are:
Piers
Abutments
Wing Walls and the Returns
Foundation

Piers
The piers are vertical structures used to support the deck or the bearings provided for load
transmission to underground soil through the foundation. These structures serve as supports for the
bridge spans at intermediate points.

The pier structure has mainly two functions:

1. Load transmission to the Foundation
2. Resistance to the horizontal forces

Types of Piers in Bridge Construction

There are different types of piers based on the structural connectivity, the shape of the section,
and the framing configuration.
Based on the structural connectivity, the pier can be classified as monolithic or
cantilevered.
Based on the shape of the section pier can be classified as solid or hollow, hexagonal,
round or octagonal, or rectangular.
Based on the framing configuration the pier can be classified as single or multiple
columns bent, hammerhead, or pier wall type.
Abutments
Abutments are vertical structures used to retain the earth behind the structure. The dead
and the live loads from the bridge superstructure are supported by the bridge abutments.
 The abutments are also subjected to lateral pressures mainly from the approach
embankment. The design loads on the abutment are mainly dependent on the:
Type of abutment selected
The sequence of construction

Components of Abutments:

Wing Walls and Returns

Structures constructed as an extension of the abutments to retain the earth present in the
approach bank are called wing walls. This portion will otherwise have a natural angle of repose.
These are retaining walls constructed adjacent to the abutments. This wall can be constructed
either integrally or independently with the abutment wall. The rear of the wall must consider three
design loads while designing. This includes:

The earth pressure from the backfill

The surcharge from the live loads or the compacting plant
The hydraulic loads from the saturated soil conditions

The stability of the wing wall is mainly based on its resistance against active earth pressures.
The structural elements of the bridges are hereby designed and constructed to resist the earth
pressures at rest.
Foundation of Bridges
Foundations are structures constructed to transmit the load from the piers, abutments, wing
walls, and the returns evenly on the strata.
The foundation provided for bridge structures are deep in a sufficient manner to avoid
scouring due to the water movement or to reduce the chances of undermining.

2. Superstructure
The components of the bridge above the bearing are known as superstructures.

It consists of the following.

Beams and girders

Both have a similar function to support the roadway and prevent bending. Girder is also
one type of beam support. Where loads are heavy girders are used instead of beam support.
Beam has a rectangle cross-section, whereas girders have composed of I-shaped cross–
sections with two load-bearing flanges and a web for stabilization.

Bearing
A bearing is provided between the bridge girder and the pier cap. The main function of the
bearing is to allow free movement or vibration of the top superstructure and reduce effect stress
to reach the bridge foundation.
Arch and Cables
Arched and Cable both have specified used. Arches are used for arch bridge construction
and cable is used for suspension, cable-stayed bridges, etc. For different types of bridge
construction arches and cables play a vital role.

Parapet Wall and Handrail

The parapet is one of the safety components of any bridge which prevent the vehicle from
falling off where there is a drop. It is also useful for restricting views, preventing rubbish from
passing below, and acting as a noise barrier.

Flooring
Its top surface of bridge roadway on vehicle travel. It is made of concrete or a bituminous
road.
3. Adjoining Structures
It consists of the following:

Approaches
It is structured and constructed at the starting or ending of any bridge. Its main function is
to provide smooth and easy entry or exit from the bridge.

Guard Stones
They are used to restrict traffic on a particular lane or sometimes as road railing but are
generally positioned to protect a specific object, such as a corner of a street or the side of a gate.

II. TYPES OF BRIDGES

1. ARCH BRIDGE
An arch bridge works by conveying the downward pressure of gravity inward to the center
of the structure toward a central stone called the keystone rather than straight down. This
principle is called compression, and it enables the arch below to support the surface, or deck,
above it.

Fixed arch bridges can be destabilized by temperature fluctuations, so the arch design is
sometimes modified with hinges at each base and even the center of the span. This helps longer
arch bridges adapt to the expansion or contraction of their materials when temperatures change
drastically.

2. BEAM BRIDGE
The simplicity of the beam bridge made it the first type of bridge ever built. It’s still the
cheapest to build. All you need is a crossbeam covering the span, supported by an abutment at
each end. One type of beam bridge is a girder bridge, which employs steel girders as
reinforcement.

Gravity is a bigger challenge when constructing a bridge because, unlike a building, most
of what’s underneath is empty space. A beam bridge might be supported only by two abutments,
one at either end, to counter gravity or bear the entirety of its load.

But here’s the danger of beam bridges: The longer a bridge is and the more people, cars,
and other things it carries, the heavier its total load. And the farther apart a beam bridge’s
abutments are, the less stable the structure is.

In beam bridges, the force of compression pushes the load inward onto piers in the middle
of the bridge. Simultaneously, the pulling or stretching force of tension pulls the load outward
toward the abutments at both ends of the bridge.
3. CANTILEVER BRIDGE
Some bridges are built using cantilever construction. This type uses a pillar anchored
vertically into the ground to support a horizontal deck extending out from one or both sides
across the span. The load often is supported from both above and below. A diving board or
platform is a good example of cantilever construction.

Cantilever bridges are often supported with trusses. A bridge truss takes the load off the
deck and transfers it to the supporting piers and abutments, helping the cantilevers withstand
tension in the upper supports and compression in the lower ones.

4. SUSPENSION BRIDGE
Suspension bridges are just what their name sounds like: They’re stabilized with vertical
pillars or pylons connected by suspension cables. Attached to these main cables are smaller,
vertical suspenders that hold up the bridge deck using tension, the main force that sustains
suspension bridges.

Though the first suspension bridges were made of simple ropes supporting wooden
planks, now the suspension technique supports long spans over broad channels. But because
these bridges are only fixed to the earth in a couple of places (the towers or pillars), they can
sway in the wind or vibrate when crossed by heavy traffic.

Suspension bridges also can be affected by torsion, a twisting force often caused by
environmental factors like wind, which can create dangerous movement. If the surface of a
bridge twists enough while travelers are on it, they can be thrown off.
5. CABLE-STAYED BRIDGE
A cable-stayed bridge is a variation on the suspension bridge that connects the crossbeam
or bridge deck directly to pillars or towers. There’s no main cable, just many vertical suspenders
affixed to the top of the tower. These suspenders use tension to help keep the bridge deck stable
and in place.

6. TIED-ARCH BRIDGE (BOWSTRING)

A tied-arch bridge combines features of an arch bridge and a suspension bridge. It uses
horizontal thrust from both sides to support an arched structure, as in a regular arch bridge. But
instead of an arch supporting the structure from below, the arch rises above the road, and
vertical ties descend to increase the support of the decking.

These are also called bowstring bridges since they look like a bow from the side. This
bow uses the tension of its vertical cables, together with the compression of the arch, to support
the load and keep the bridge stable.

7. TRUSS BRIDGE
A truss bridge distributes its load across a series of small sections fitted together.
Formed by structural beams for smaller bridges or box girders for larger ones, bridge trusses are
typically bound together by welded or riveted joints in a series of triangles.

Vertical steel or wooden supports help hold up the bridge using tension, while the
diagonal truss supports add stability via compression, directing the load toward the center,
similar to an arch.
 Truss Bridge
III. IDENTIFY ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES FOR A BRIDGE USING
BETWEEN STEEL AND REINFORCED STRUCTURE

ADVANTAGES OF USING STEEL BRIDGE STRUCTURE

Lower construction costs compared with other materials help save money for municipal
governments. Faster construction reduces traffic and business disruption.
Steel bridges last longer than other types, which means they don’t have to be replaced as
quickly. Steel components require less maintenance and don’t need to be replaced as
often.
Steel is highly adaptable to different climates and geographic conditions. The relative
lightness of steel compared with other materials reduces energy use during delivery and
construction.
Steel components are less likely to be damaged during extreme events like hurricanes
and earthquakes. Steel components are used to transmit critical utility services across
bridges.
Steel has a remarkably high strength-to-weight ratio. This minimizes the weight of bridge
superstructures, which reduces the cost of building the substructures that support them.
One of the biggest advantages of steel is weight savings, which means lower erection
costs since the bridge pieces can be handled with lighter equipment. In addition, for the
same span and load, a steel girder requires less depth than a concrete girder, which can
be helpful when constrained by vertical clearance requirements.
Generally, it’s easier to make spans continuous for both live and dead loads and to
develop composite action with steel designs rather than with concrete ones.
It’s easier to inspect and determine the structural state of a steel bridge where all the
components are visible. The long-term durability and cost-effectiveness of steel bridges
will be further enhanced by the use of high-performance steel with weathering
capabilities.
Steel permits cost-effective longer spans for crossing streams, lakes, wetlands, and
environmentally protected areas. The long spans may eliminate or at least minimize
environmental impact.
 DISADVANTAGES OF USING STEEL BRIDGE STRUCTURE
Buckling is an issue with steel structures. As the length of the steel member builds, the
chances of buckling also increase.
Steel is available only at the steel shops where it's produced and should be transported
for long distances to the construction point, not at all like concrete or different materials
that might be accessible right at the point of development.
Due to rust in steel, expensive maquillages are needed to reestablish from time to time
so that resistance against severe conditions increments.
Indeed, though steel is a flexible material, it's challenging to make field corrections if one
or further factors don't fit meetly. A large portion of the metal structure performs cleave
to strict quality assurance procedures guarantee all pieces of a system fit directly. But in
fact, it isn't possible. One cannot form it or cut it in the ideal shape on-point once it's
fabricated.
Steel cannot fester in any path you needed. It must be employed in structures in which
areas originally live.
Steel is a good captain of heat, touches off accouterments in contact, and frequently
causes fires, snappily spreading to different parts of a structure. Hence, steel structures
may bear redundant fireproofing treatment.
ADVANTAGES OF USING REINFORCED BRIDGE STRUCTURE
Reinforced concrete has high compressive strength compared to other building
materials.
Due to the provided reinforcement, reinforced concrete can also withstand a good
amount of tensile stress.
Fire and weather resistance of reinforced concrete is fair.
The reinforced concrete building system is more durable than any other building system.
Reinforced concrete, as a fluid material, in the beginning, can be economically molded
into a nearly limitless range of shapes.
The maintenance cost of reinforced concrete is very low.
In structures like footings, dams, piers, etc. reinforced concrete is the most economical
construction material.
It acts like a rigid member with minimum deflection.
As reinforced concrete can be molded to any shape required, it is widely used in precast
structural components. It yields rigid members with minimum apparent deflection.
Compared to the use of steel in structure, reinforced concrete requires less skilled labor
for the erection of the structure.
DISADVANTAGES OF USING REINFORCED BRIDGE STRUCTURE
The tensile strength of reinforced concrete is about one-tenth of its compressive
strength.
The main steps of using reinforced concrete are mixing, casting, and curing. All of this
affects the final strength.
The cost of the forms used for casting RC is relatively higher.
For multi-storied building the RCC column section for is larger than the steel section as
the compressive strength is lower in the case of RCC.
Shrinkage causes crack development and strength loss.