Steel Bridges
Modern steel bridges taking advantage of the
latest advances in automated fabrication and
construction techniques are able to provide
economic solutions to the demands of safety,
rapid construction, aesthetic appearance,
shallow
construction
depth,
minimal
maintenance and flexibility in future use.
Advantages of using steel as a material
High strength to weight ratio
High quality material
Speed of construction
Versatility
Modification and repair
Recycling
Durability
Aesthetics
High Strength to Weight Ratio
Leads to :
* Reduce weight and cost of superstructure and substructure
* Shallow construction depth
* Low transport cost
Moving a bowstring bridge at Hale - UK
High Quality Material
Readily available worldwide in various certified grades,
shapes and sizes
High quality control in manufacturing
Prefabrication in controlled shop conditions leads to
high quality work at minimum cost.
Speed of construction
The prefabrication of components means that
construction time on site in hostile environments is
minimised. The speed of steel bridge construction
reduces the durations of rail possessions and road
closures, which minimises disruption to the public using
those networks.
The Newark Dyke rail bridge
Just slid into position
Versatility
Steel suits a range of construction methods and sequences;
five typical ones are:
Assembly in situ
Launching
Lifting
Cantilevering
Sliding or rolling in
Modification & Repair
Steel bridges are adaptable and can readily be
altered for a change in use. They can be widened
to accommodate extra lanes of traffic, and
strengthened to carry heavier traffic loads.
Tamar suspension bridge: before and after widening
Recycling
Durability
By proper inspection and maintenance steel
bridges may last for several 100 years.
Take measures to protect from corrosion
Use weathering steel
Aesthetics
Steel has broad architectural possibilities.
Modern fabrication methods have removed
restrictions on curvature in both plan and
elevation.
The
painting
of
steelwork
introduces colour and contrast, and repainting
can change or refresh the appearance of the
Forth
Alamillo Bridge Spain
Sydney harbour bridge
Gateshead millennium bridge
Classification of steel Bridges
Steel bridges can be classified under the
following groups:
Beam bridges
Plate girder bridges
Box girder bridges
Truss bridges
Arch bridges
Cable stayed bridges
Cantilever bridges
Suspension bridges
Movable bridges
Beam bridges and Plate girder bridges
Depending on the spans involved, the loading intensity, costs
of steelwork fabrication and any particular geometric and /or
aesthetic requirements of the structure, a decision must be
taken as to whether commercially available rolled beam
sections or fabricated girders are to be used
There is usually a choice available between (a) using two
widely spaced longitudinal girders, with the cross girder
system supporting the deck, and (b) providing multiple
longitudinal girders with small spacing.
I beam bridge
Plate girder bridge
Simple and is widely used.
Much more shear capacity
than is required.
Economy in shear has improved
Haunched to increase transverse
bending resistance
At larger girder spacings
cross girders are introduced
to keep the required slab
thickness small
the twin girders with
intermediate stringer
Modes of instability in plate
girders
Typical span / depth
proportions
