bridges, culverts and causew
detail in their relevant chapters.
6-2. MOVABLE-SPAN STRUCTURES
movable-span superstructures, it is
In case of bridges with remaini
arranged that the superstructure of the bridge does not
permanently. But it is possible to move the
a fixed position the bridge out of use, when necessary.
superstrUcture so as to put
happens that the ships may have to pass through
It sometimes so requiring the provision of very high clearance.
the high level bridges very high approaches or highly graded
Such bridges will require is to be provided in
maximum clearance
approaches even if the on the bridge is such
portion only. Where the traffic
the midle traffic for a short duration on the road
or
that suspension of
materially affect the overall traffic, the high level
railway will not decks with minimum clearance above H.FL
bridges are built with
normal passage of water and the middle one or two spans or
for which can be moved
the entire span will be provided with girders
for clearing the navigation vessels.
represent
It should be remembered that the movable bridges necessary to pay
specially designed structures and it is therefore housing, operato
and the
special attention to the machinery involved attempt
maintenance of such machinery. If an is made to reduce
and
as aluminium alloy t
the weight of bridge by using material such will
reduction in dead weight of the structure considerably Dni
bridge.
down the cost of power required for the working ofthe
Superstructures
Following are the various bridges with movable-span
(1) Bascule bridges
(2) Cut-boat bridges
(3) Flying bridges
(4) ift bridges
(5) Swing bridges
(6) Transporter bridges
descnie
(7) Traversing bridges.
Each of the above type of bridge will now be briefly
in this chapter.
215 rotated
issuperstructure
andeasyofoperation
inis maybridge
that addition,
faster andor the
bridge
angle
An type
counter-weights
The
bascule
possesses
rackfor bridgebridgeevident raised
bascule
provided
Suitable in deck Hinge
Superstructures
ofthethe bascule
when
bascule. be and
quite bridge:
singlecanbridgeof it
be as
horizontalaxís.
are the is bridgesmallereither favoured
swing
a Itbridge.bascule Single
bridge
bascule Double
bascule
bridge
formed,
is
ofentire counter-weights channel,
shows
Movable-span bascule may the
end
bank require 6-2 generally
the 6-1bascule single 6-1
FIG, FIG. over
of bridge
bridge, horizontal Fig. double
width especial
BRIDGES a thewill
Bridges: about double bascule
double. Hinge is
abascule
andatthe the theof bridge
one
arrangement
pinionthe upon a of advantag
cost BASCULE
6-3. plane hinge position.
of lifted
the or shows larger
leaves The
bascule
with single
Depending
Low vertical parts.
type.
through rHinge
case
In single
a
than
6-2smaller
80° double following
6-3)Art. be fig. moving
a
to oither
70° andhuo the
th
216 Bridge Engineering
[Ch, 6
(i) It can be opened easily and rapidly. Th
(0) It is easy to construct another bascule adjacent to the Some
one in future, if need arises. existig he m
positi
(iii) Its initial cost is low.
(iv) The opening can be adjusted in the sense that it can 65.F
be made large to allow large vessels or can be made either
to allow small vessels. small In
() When it is in the lifted position, the entire span of SUsper
bridgeistthat th
available. Hence, the vessels get more space for navigation. flow. 1
The only drawback of this bridge is that its working is seriously kept a
disturbed, when the wind is blowing with high velocity.
Th
64. CUT-BOAT BRIDGES exertec
the di
The arrangement of cut-boat bridge is provided for boat bridges
i.e. when the superstructure of bridge is resting on the boats. It is
so_arranged that some portion of the entire span of bridge can be
moved on the downstream side with the help of cables
adjacent portions as shown in fig. 6-3. This small portion isattached to
specially
designed and constructed.
Cables
Post
Boats
Elevation
Boats
The
Driection
of
flow
therafice.
4 Cut-boat position
soermanto
Plan
Cut-boat bridge \n c
FIG. 6-3 eans
Art. 6-6] Low cost Bridges: Movable-span Superstructures 217
The cut-boat bridge is provided when it is necessary_to _provide
ome passage for the navigation traffic. When the ships pass out,
the movable-span is_pulled back and it is placed in its normat
position.
6-5. FLYING BRIDGES
In case of flying bridges, a boat or a raft is attached to a
suspended cable by means of the swinging cables. It is so arranged
that the boat makes an angle of about 55° with the direction of
Alow. The suspended cable is stretched across the river and it is
kept above the level of the highest flood of the stream.
The boat moves from one bank to the other by the pressure
exerted by current of flow. When the boat reaches the other end,
the direction of swinging cables is changed.
Tower Wheel Tower
-Suspended cable
-SwingingDricction
cable
flow
of
Boat
Road Road
Plan of a flying bridge
FIG. 6-4
The flying bridges can be used only to carry light passenger
traffic. They can be adopted for short spans only and at places
where enenough materials are not available for the construction of
permanent
also bridge across the stream and the available funds are
too small.
6-6. LIFT BRIDGES
In case of lift bridges, the whole span is vertically lifted up by
heans of suitable arrangement of the pulley and counter-weight as
Shown in fig- 6-5.
218 Brldge Engineering
[Ch. 6
The towers are provided on either side with sheavesbyor grooves,
The rigid trusses of the bridge are moved up and down the cables
which pass over pulleys mounted at the top of the towers and th
pulleys in turn are connected to the counter-weights at the othe
end. When the truss is lifted up in vertical plane, it allows navigation
in the channel. A light over-head truss is generally provided at
top connecting the two towers. Such an arrangement results in better
bracing and it permits support to a walkway during maintenance
work. The lift bridge compares very favourably with the bas
bridge and is found to be cheap in cost for long spans.
Lifted position -Pulley
Tower Tower
Counter weight
-Cable
Lift bridge
FIG. 6-5
Following points should be noted:
(1) Number of towers: The total number of towers may be
two or four i.e. one on either side of bank or two on eitherside of
the bank.
(2)
Construction: The lift bridges are simple to design
construct. It is also easy to operate them.
(3) Overhead trusses: To give more the
the bridge,
towers may be connected at their tops byrigidity to
the overhead trusses.
width of
(4) Span: The span of lift bridge may be to the
stream or river. But if the width of strean or equal
river is
more, it may
even form the part of total length of the bridge
bridge
(5) Wind pressure: The effect of wind on a lift
disturbed
is not appreciable and as such, its working ispressure
not seriously
even when the wind is blowing with high
velocity.
Art. 6-7]Low cost Bridges: Movable-span Superstructures 219
G-7. SWING BRIDGES
In case of swing bridges, a central pier is provided with suitable
bearings or rollers. The superstructure consists of a pair of
trusses and can be rotated in a horizontal plane about a vertical
d vis by some suitable equipment.
Fig. 6-6 shows plan and elevation of a swing bridge. The dotted
lines indicate the position of the bridge after rotation.
Pier
Elevation River bed
Pier I Steel truss
Steel truss
Plan
Swing bridge
FIG. 6-6
Following points should be noted:
of (1)
br(2)idgeFlomay
oring:be Depending upon the alignment of road, the flooring
placed the top or bottom boom of the trusses.
at
with suchLocking arrangements: The bridge should be provided
Inflownormal during locking
open
position.
arrangements that it remains parallel to the
position and that it remains in line with road
(3)
divides thePosition
length
of pier: It is usually so arranged that the pier
possi ble
wiof tlonger to of bridge into two
h n span.have equal spans, the shorterequal spans. But if it is not
span should be provided
hecessary extra weight tocounterbalance the excess weight
220 Bridge Engineering
ICh,
The swing bridge is not favoured at present
following disacantages: because of its
) Land traffic: When the swing span is rotated, there is
protection to the land traffic at the water edge.
(ü) Navigational capacity: The bridge dividesthe wider
into two narrower halves and hence,
capacity of the waterway is reduced.
the naviwaterway
gational
(i)Obstruction tothe flow of water: The pier causes obstruction
to the flow of water and it deflects the currents of water
towards the banks.
() Time of operation: The bridge has to be swung for ninety
degrees even to allow passage to a small vessel. Thus, it
requires along time for each operation.
6-8. TRANSPoRTER BRIDGES
In case of transporter bridges, a moving cage is suspended from
an overhead truS5 with the help of cable or wire ropes as shown in
fig. 6-7. The overhead truss rests on two towers and it
contains
ails for cage to roil, The cage is loaded with persons or goods and
it is then allowed to move from one end to the other end of river.
This type of bridge is used within a harbour area to provide an
artangemerrt for shifting of men and materials across a channel.
Overhead truss
Tower -Tower
4-Cable
-Cage
Transporter bridge
FIG. 6-7
221
than theon
whole
rollers
across
ferry
the
a withobsolete.
thatbackward
Superstructures
as provided
less arranged
now Normal
position
or or
forward
more
Movable-span so is are
bridge Traversing
bridge
is bridges
transport.it
behaves 6-8
FIG,
6-9. rolled
bridges,
TRAVERSING
BRIDGES The
traversing
bridge be6-8.
Bridges: vehicular partly
traversing
fig.
Rollers
in The Drawn
position
cost transporter or shown
the fully approaches.
Low of
for casecanas
Ques.Thebridge
6] opening
In bridge
the
a
