Table of Contents
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Bridges Utilizing Different Materials [1] |
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Bridges by Materials
Wooden Bridges
- Wood is an excellent natural resource that can be used in small to medium bridges that can support; pedestrian or vehicles with weight limits.
- Wooden bridges seen nowadays are used to transport, people, cars, and livestock over rough terrain or small covered bridges that span small rivers [2].
Wooden Bridge [3] |
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Stone Bridges
- Stone is another excellent natural resource that can be used to construct large bridges as it is a very heavy and strong material that it can support large loads.
- The Point du Gard aqueduct in France uses stones that is 48.8m high and 275m long that has been stable for two thousand years [2].
Stone Bridge [4] |
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Concrete Bridges
- Concrete bridges are strong in compression and weak in tension which is why concrete bridges usually consist of vertical and horizontal beams.
- Concrete with steel bars (rebar) is usually used in these horizontal beams as the steel will carry all the tension. This also protects the steel from corrosion and fire [5].
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Concrete Bridge [6] |
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Steel Bridges
- Steel bridges are very strong and light bridges as steel has a high strength to weight ratio. As well, steel is very economical, safe, flexible, easily constructed, and has low maintenance.
- Steel is also the most recycled construction material and by using this in bridges, engineers ae contributing to sustainability management of natural resources.
- Furthermore, steel is the most versatile and effective material for bridge construction as it is able to carry loads in tension, compression, and shear [7].
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Steel Bridge [8] |
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