BRIDGE ENGINEERING:

Introduction To Bridges
By Ivan D.L. Marquez, CE
Introduction To Bridges
• A bridge is a structure that crosses over
physical obstacles such as a body of
water, valley, or road, permitting the
smooth and safe passage of vehicles,
trains, and pedestrians.
Components of a Bridge

vSuperstructure
vSubstructure
vAppurtenances & Site - Related
Features
SUPERSTRUCTURE
 Superstructures
Deck
The deck is the physical extension of the roadway across
the obstruction to be bridged.

Wearing Surface
The wearing surface is
that portion of the deck
cross section which resists
traffic wear.
Superstructures
Primary Members
Primary members
distribute loads
longitudinally and are
usually designed
principally to re si st
flexure. Beam type
primary members are
also called stringers or
girders.
Superstructures
Secondary Members
Secondary members are bracing between
primary members designed to resist cross-
sectional deformation of the superstructure
frame and help distribute part of the vertical
load between stringers.
SUBSTRUCTURE
Substructures
Pedestals
A pedestal is a short
column on an
abutment or pier
which directly
s u p p o r t s a
superstructure
primary member.
Substructures
Bearings
Bearings are
mechanical
systems which
transmit the
vertical loads of
the superstructure
t o t h e
substructure.
Substructures
Abutments
Abutments are earth-
retai ni ng st r u c t u re s
which support the
superstructure and
overpass roadway at
the beginning and end
of a bridge.
 Substructures
Backwall
A backwall, sometimes
called the stem, is the
primary component of the
abutment acting as a
retaining structure at each
approach.
Wingwall
A wingwall is a sidewall to
the abutment backwall or
stem designed to assist in
confining earth behind the
abutment.
Substructures
Piers
Pi ers are st ruct ure s
which support the
superstructure at
i nte r m e d i ate p o i nt s
between the abutments.
Substructures
Footing
As bearings and pedestal
transfer the superstructure
loads to the substructure,
so in turn do the abutment
and pier footings transfer
loads from the substructure
to the subsoil.

Piles
When the soil under a footing cannot provide adequate support for
the substructure, support is obtained through the use of piles,
which extend down from the footing to the proper depth.
APPURTENANCE & SITE
RELATED FEATURES
Appurtenance & Site Related Features
Embankment and Slope Protection
The slope that tapers from
the abutment to the
underpass (embankment)
is covered with a material
called slope protection,
which should be both
aesthetically pleasing and
provide for proper
drainage and erosion
control.
Appurtenance & Site Related Features
Approach
Approach is the section
of overpass roadway
which leads up to and
away from the bridge
abutments
Traffic Barriers
Tr a f f i c B a r r i e r s a r e
protective devices used
to reduce the severity
of an accident when a
vehicle leaves the road.
Classification of Bridges
Bridge are classified based on the:
a) Materials
b) Objective
c) Structural System
d) Support Condition
e) Position of Traveled Way
f) Durability
Classification of Bridges by
MATERIALS
Classification of Bridges by Material
Steel bridges: A steel bridge may use a wide variety
of structural steel components and systems:
girders, frames, trusses, arches, and suspension
cables.
Concrete bridges: There are two primary types of
concrete bridges: reinforced and prestressed.
Timber bridges: Wooden bridges are used when
the span is relatively short.
Metal alloy bridges: Metal alloys such as aluminum
alloy and stainless steel are also used in bridge
construction.
Classification of Bridges by
OBJECTIVES
Classification of Bridges by Objective
Highway bridges: bridges on highways for
vehicles.
Railway bridges: bridges on railroads for trains.
Combined bridges: bridges carrying vehicles and
trains
Pedestrian bridges: bridges carrying pedestrian
traffic
Aqueduct bridges: bridges supporting pipes
with channeled water flow
Classification of Bridges by
STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS
Classification of Bridges by Structural
System
Plate girder bridges: The main girders consist of
a plate assemblage of upper and lower flanges
and a web. H- or I-cross-sections effectively
resist bending and shear.
Box girder bridges: The simple (or multiple)
main girder consists of a box beam fabricated
from steel plates or formed from concrete,
which resists not only bending and shear but
also torsion effectively.
Classification of Bridges by Structural
System
T-beam bridges: A number of reinforced
concrete T-beams are placed side by side to
support the live load.
Composite girder bridges: The concrete deck
slab works in conjunction with the steel
girders to support loads as a united beam
Classification of Bridges by Structural
System
Grillage girder bridges: The main girders are
connected transversely by floor beams to form
a grid pattern which shares the loads with the
main girders.
Tr u s s b r i d g e s : Tr u s s b a r m e m b e r s a r e
theoretically considered to be connected with
pins at their ends to form triangles.
Classification of Bridges by Structural
System
Arch bridges: The arch is a structure that resists
load mainly in axial compression. In ancient
times stone was the most common material
used to construct magnificent arch bridges.
Cable-stayed bridges: The girders are supported by
highly strengthened cables (often composed of
tightly bound steel strands) which stem directly
from the tower.
Suspension bridges: The girders are suspended by
hangers tied to the main cables which hang from
the towers.
Classification of Bridges by
SUPPORT CONDITIONS
Classification of Bridges by Support
Condition
Simply-supported bridges: The main girders or trusses
are supported by a movable hinge at one end and a
fixed hinge at the other (simple support); thus they can
be analyzed using only the conditions of equilibrium.
Continuously supported bridges: Girders or trusses are
supported continuously by more than three supports,
resulting in a structurally indeterminate system.
Cantilever bridge: A continuous bridge is rendered
determinate by placing intermediate hinges between
the supports.
 Classification of Bridges by
POSITION OF TRAVELLED WAY
Classification of Bridges by Position of
Traveled Way
Deck Bridge: When the roadway is installed on
top of the main girder.
Half-through Bridge: When the roadway is
installed between the depth of the main girder.
Through Bridge: When the roadway is installed
at the bottom of the main girder.
Classification of Bridges by
DURABILITY
Classification of Bridges by Durability
• Permanent bridge
• Semi-permanent bridge
• Temporary bridge
ISSUES in BRIDGE
ISSUES in BRIDGE
MANILA, Philippines — Have
you ever seen a bridge over
land? For some, seeing one is a
surprise.

An average photo of a national

road in Paku, Bontoc in
Southern Leyte made rounds
on Facebook on April 16. What
made it different from other
national roads is that some
netizens pointed out it is a
"bridge with no river."
ISSUES in BRIDGE
A report by Bicol Today, along with other
netizens, suggested that the project is an
evidence of graft and corruption as the
bridge is built where there is no body of
water to cross over.

D e p a r t m e n t o f P u b l i c Wo r k s a n d
Highways (DPWH) District Engineer of
Southern Leyte Ma. Margarita Junia
defended the project on her Facebook
page:
"Please be informed that bridges are not
constructed for rivers only. Overpass is a
bridge, but there is no river underneath."
ISSUES in BRIDGE
Junia told Rappler in a phone interview
that particular section of Bato-Bontoc
road has been rebuilt over and over in
the past decades.

"It was first under construction around

1990s with Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA). Ever since,
that part of the road collapses," said the
district engineer.

According to Junia, the section has

collapsed about thrice .
ISSUES in BRIDGE
Their disctrict implemented measures to
stabilize the soil under. She said they had
to p u t n u m e ro u s re b l o c k i n g s , s o i l
embankment, and slope protection
projects.

In 2012, the district consulted a geologist.

They were advised that the soil under is
made of very fine clay that tends to
dissolve during heavy rains.

"That's why the road collapses

everytime," she said.