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How Are Bridges Built?
Around the world bridges are found in a variety of designs and sizes. The humble bridge was built by balancing a horizontal beam on two pillars. As demand increased and the gap grew, larger gaps had to be bridged and heavier loads had to be taken on.
This led to the necessity for arches. They were used in archers of the Ancient Romans, the arch shape could support massive amounts of weight . It made for a remarkable way of creating bigger and stronger bridges. But, archways could only span a certain distance. For larger areas larger areas, longer bridges also need been constructed. They are referred to as suspension bridges.
They work by combining of tension and compression forces that flow through the cable system. The deck, or road, is laid out over the cables, and they are strung together in the right balance of the two forces, so that it will not be able to bend or snap under tension. For most suspension bridges the tower is set at each end to support the weight and strain.
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Iconic models of bridges are bridges like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the England's Humber Bridge. In addition to road traffic bridges can also be used to transport water and rail. Bridges can be larger and more robust as they are required to transport large freight and ferry trains or passenger trains across huge distances.
Seven of the longest bridges worldwide are situated in China and the majority of them being railway bridges. As technology and engineering advances further, more expansive bridges may be on the horizon.
There's been talk of a bridge connecting England and France and also a crossing over the Strait of Gibraltar connecting Europe and Africa.
While it might seem a bit to be a bit flimsy, the 16-kilometre (ten-mile) Oresund Bridge that connects Denmark as well as Sweden has proven that bridges across countries are possible to construct successfully.
Bridge Construction Process
The majority of bridge construction projects follow the same timeline, starting with the planning phase, and concluding with the final inspections and testing. Larger projects may need specific processes, the majority of projects follow these steps:
Step 1: Site Inspection and Planning
Before the construction process begins, architects must examine the soil for strength depth, depth, the layout of the land and other factors. Utilizing computer-aided design engineers can visualize the structure's performance under various conditions of weather and weight and decide on the best design.
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Step 2: Setting the Foundation
Once the planning phase is completed after which workers begin breaking the ground at the site of work and begin laying the foundation for the bridge. For this, they select a site that is stable or place supporting piles in the ground, and then construct solid pillars which will later be used to support the remainder parts of the bridge. These pillars are generally made out of concrete and be able to support massive weights.
Step 3: Installing Piers and Bridge Supports
When the bottoms of bridge piers have been set then the workers build them up until each pier is at the height it was designed for. Based on the dimensions and design of the bridge, supports may be made entirely of concrete or a mixture of steel and other materials.
Step 4: Adding the Superstructure
The superstructure comprises all the components which directly take in the load, which includes supports beams and cables, as well as latticework. In order to install the superstructure engineers have to harness a variety of materials and construct structures that provide support in the event of the elements of gravity, wind and other forces of nature.
Step 5: Final Quality and Safety Inspections
After the construction is completed after which the construction team conducts safety tests with bridge booms and cranes to make sure that the structure is in compliance with the highest quality standards. The tests help engineers eliminate or fix any structural weaknesses before proceeding to install final electric and paving systems.
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