The Physics of Bridges Essay - 541 Words

Physics of Bridges The physics behind bridges is more complex than first meets the eye. To assure that a bridge is well-supported many concepts must be understood and used in the correct manner. What is a bridge? A bridge is a complex structure allowing passage across an obstacle: a structure that is built above and across a river, road, or other obstacle to allow people or vehicles to cross it. Bridge forms There are four major forms of bridges: beam, truss, arch, and suspension. A beam bridge, also known as a girder bridge, contains a horizontal beam supported by 2 piers at each end. The beam pushes down on the piers, which weakens the overall bridge. These simplistic bridges are the shortest of all types due to the lack of†¦show more content†¦Above the bridge, a structure of the same pattern is placed to support the bridge from above. At the ends of each bridge, there are two similar trusses. This ensures that the bridge stays together, even when large amounts of weights cross it. By allowing more weight to cross, these bridges can be longer than beam bridges (they can be up to 500 meters). Forces are the focus of these bridges; each bar exerts a pushing or pulling force without bending. These forces allows the lightweight bridge to stay sturdy without collapsing as each steel bar pushes or pulls in the correct direction. Due to this stability, these bridges are often found over places with unstable ground. Anything from cars to trains are able to cross over these types of bridges without issues. There are 4 major concepts in building a bridge that builders must pay attention to; span type, material of the bridge, the placement of the travel surface in relation to the structure, and the form of the bridge. When considering all of these concepts, builders can effectively construct a safe and sturdy bridge. Newton’s 3rd Law One of the most vital concepts in bridge construction is Newton’s 3rd Law. This law states: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/bridge/basics.html#beam http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/china/meetbeam.htmlShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Physics of Bridges3539 Words   |  15 PagesThe Physics of Bridges The design of the bridge superstructure is based on a set of loading conditions which the component or element must withstand. A bridge engineer must take into account a wide variety of loads which may vary based on the duration of the load (permanent or temporary), the direction of the load (vertical, longitudinal, etc.), and the effect of the load (shear, bending, torsion, etc.). 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